Cham
Synopsis
Franka, a Warsaw prostitute, is wounded with a knife by a pimp. She ends up in the hospital, where the doctor caring for her, who wants to help her break with her past, offers her a job as a maid in the countryside. Desiring to forget the torments of her past life, the girl agrees. In the countryside she meets Pawel, a simple country boy whom she seduces. The infatuated Pawel, to whom Franka reveals her past, marries her. However, the monotonous rural life bores Franka, longing for a big-city life, and when Pawel leaves for a few days, she escapes with a man she meets casually to Warsaw, where she leads the life of a cabaret chansonist. After a few years she returns, bringing with her an illegitimate child. Pawel forgives her and takes her back under his roof. But this is not the end of Pawel's ordeal....
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Krystyna Ankwicz
Franka
Mieczysław Cybulski
Pawel
Eugeniusz Gielba
Gelba
Tadeusz Ordeyg
village headman
Lech Owron
chauffeur
Mieczysław Gielniewski
peasant
Jerzy Ney
a dancer in a dance show at a restaurant
Maria Chaveau
housekeeper on the estate
Irena Carnero
Spinner (uncredited)
Ina Ney
(uncredited)
Genowefa Oranowska
(uncredited)
Henryk Rzętkowski
Cook at the estate (uncredited)
Stanisław Sielański
Servant on the estate (uncredited)
Czesław Skonieczny
Owner of a restaurant in Warsaw (uncredited)
Barbara Wywerkówna
Child (uncredited)
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jan Nowina-Przybylski, Charles Méré
- Screenplay & Story
- Eliza Orzeszkowa, Marian Szyjkowski
- Original Score
- Jan Maklakiewicz
- Original Title
- Cham
- Country of Origin
- France, Poland
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 11m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jan Nowina-Przybylski, Charles Méré
Eliza Orzeszkowa, Marian Szyjkowski
Jan Maklakiewicz
Albert Wywerka
Department Leadership Roster
Jan Nowina-Przybylski
Director
Charles Méré
Director
Marian Szyjkowski
Writer
Albert Wywerka
Director of Photography
Ștefan Norris
Production Design
Jan Maklakiewicz
Original Music Composer
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Cham.
Polish Films
Polish cinema: Wikidata country-of-origin Poland, merged with the canon (Polish Film School, Moral Anxiety, Has, Zulawski, Kieslowski, Wajda, contemporary).
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cham
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Cham about?
Franka, a Warsaw prostitute, is wounded with a knife by a pimp. She ends up in the hospital, where the doctor caring for her, who wants to help her break with her past, offers her a job as a maid in the countryside. Desiring to forget the torments of her past life, the girl agrees. In the countryside she meets Pawel, a simple country boy whom she seduces. The infatuated Pawel, to whom Franka reveals her past, marries her. However, the monotonous rural life bores Franka, longing for a big-city life, and when Pawel leaves for a few days, she escapes with a man she meets casually to Warsaw, where she leads the life of a cabaret chansonist. After a few years she returns, bringing with her an illegitimate child. Pawel forgives her and takes her back under his roof. But this is not the end of Pawel's ordeal....
Who directed Cham?
Cham was directed by Jan Nowina-Przybylski, Charles Méré.
Who stars in Cham?
The principal cast of Cham includes Krystyna Ankwicz, Mieczysław Cybulski, Eugeniusz Gielba, Tadeusz Ordeyg, Lech Owron.
When was Cham released and how long is it?
Cham was released in 1931 with a total runtime of 1h 11m.
Who composed the musical score for Cham?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Cham was composed by Jan Maklakiewicz.
Is Cham based on a book or true story?
Cham is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Eliza Orzeszkowa".