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Movie Description Agnieszka Holland's FEVER, based on THE STORY OF THE BOMB by Andrzej Strug, tells an ambitiously broad, compelling story concerning class warfare, nationalism, and personal loyalty in 1905 Poland, where concepts of independence, anarchy, and political terrorism breed an underground socialist movement. Concentrating on one bomb that shifts hands on its way to detonation, Holland's film is able to present a wide variety of viewpoints, including those of high-ranking government officials, nonpartisan Poles, and, most importantly, members of the revolutionary movement. One of the most thrilling moments takes place at an illustrious ball, where a bomb-carrying woman waits, unsuccessfully, for the moment to obliterate a general. By the time the film reaches its climax, the bomb has changed hands so many times that the individuals carrying it have begun to question if it's even going to work. Holland masterfully weaves together an intricate tapestry of stories, creating a densely layered work that maintains its thematic cohesion (and its human touch) even as familiar characters are left behind. Jan Kanty-Pawluskiewicz's score contributes a vital note of abiding optimism that keeps the somber topic from collapsing under its own weight.
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