Vabank

Vabank (1981) is a Polish crime-comedy heist you can watch online on iFILM. It marked the directing debut of Juliusz Machulski. Warsaw, October 1934 — jazz, fedoras and a con worked out down to the last detail.

Master safecracker Kwinto walks out of prison ready to go straight. Then a friend is murdered, and the trail leads to banker Kramer, the former partner who once framed him. Kwinto cooks up something better than a simple robbery: he'll clean out Kramer's bank and rig it so the owner looks like the thief. Jan Machulski, the director's own father, plays the lead, squaring off against Leonard Pietraszak as the slick villain. The scheme unfolds like clockwork, clicking into place one beat at a time.

Elegant revenge, a hero easy to root for, and an ending you'll want to replay. The film is a long-standing classic in Poland, and its theme tune is recognizable from the first few bars. A treat for anyone who loves smart, old-Hollywood-style capers. Stream Vabank (1981) online on iFILM.