Character Relationship Map: Bad Luck

Characters

• Jan Piszczyk (played by Bogumił Kobiela) — protagonist

  Middle-aged petty bourgeois Jew and the film's protagonist. Son of a tailor, he is laid off from his job and reflects on his life through flashbacks spanning Polish history from the 1920s to the Stali...

• Basia (played by Maria Ciesielska) — protagonist

  During the German occupation, Basia helps Jan after he flees a raid and needs new contacts. She introduces him to a group seeking information about conditions in Germany and a weapons factory. Through...

• Jola (played by Barbara Lass) — supporting

  Jola is Jan's first romantic interest. While hoping to find love and a secure place in society, Jan pursues a tutoring job and becomes involved in a protest. The resulting trouble costs him his romanc...

• Young Jan Piszczyk (played by Wojciech Litynski) — minor
• Jelonek (played by Edward Dziewoński) — minor

  Jan meets Jelonek during the German occupation and helps with his business and errands. The work gives Jan money and earns him trust, but it also draws him into dangerous dealings. After a raid forces...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Jan Piszczyk → Young Jan Piszczyk (Temporal Adult And Younger Self) — Young Jan represents the earlier period of the protagonist's life recalled in the film's flashbacks.

  The film follows Jan reflecting on his life through flashbacks, and the character list identifies Young Jan Piszczyk as a younger version of him.

• Jan Piszczyk → Jelonek (Professional Business Associate) — Jan works for Jelonek and gains trust, while the business also draws him into dangerous dealings.

  After meeting Jelonek, Jan helps with the man's business and errands; the work brings Jan money and trust.

• Jan Piszczyk → Jola (Former Romantic Interest) — Their romance ends after Jan's participation in a protest leads to another beating.

  Jan hopes for love and a secure place in society, and his involvement in a protest costs him his first romance with Jola.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jan Piszczyk → Basia (Alliance Helper) — Basia helps Jan seek new contacts during the occupation by introducing him to a group with information-gathering aims.

  After a raid forces Jan to flee, he turns to Basia for help finding new contacts. Basia introduces him to a group seeking information about conditions...

Story Analysis

Jan repeatedly adapts to changing social and political circumstances in search of safety and belonging, only to find that security remains precarious.

Plot Progression

1. A Search for Belonging — Jan recalls being mistaken for a Jew and beaten at school. He seeks acceptance through an organization and tutoring, but a protest costs him his romance with Jola.
2. Ambition Meets Setback — Jan envies the cadets and tries to enter military school. His approach to Jola's father does not go as he hopes.
3. Risk Under Occupation — Jan obtains identity papers and becomes involved in Jelonek's business, which brings both trust and danger. After a raid, he turns to Basia for help finding contacts.
4. Escape and Hiding — Basia introduces Jan to a group seeking information, but an ensign recognizes him. Jan escapes Warsaw and hides with an uncle until the war ends.
5. Work and Uncertain Security — After liberation, Jan returns to the city and later seeks a government job. He earns office assignments and takes satisfaction in his work, while the opening dismissal plea frames that security as fra...