You are here:

The Third Part of the Night

Name: The Third Part of the Night
Director: Andrzej Żuławski
Released: 1972
Duration: 107 min

Representation Score

4.7/10

Fair

1972

Director

Andrzej Żuławski

Runtime

107 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Andrzej Żuławski’s film is a visceral, expressionistic exploration of psychological disintegration. It excels as a postmodern descent into madness, using surrealism to mirror the trauma of living under Nazi occupation. The work effectively critiques totalitarianism and the corruption of state power. It dismantles the idea of a stable society, providing a complex view of how systemic oppression affects individuals. However, the film remains heavily centered on a singular, male-driven experience. The lack of diverse representation and the focus on traditional patriarchal structures of trauma limit its broad appeal.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Third Part of the Night have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-straight identities. The story centers around the protagonist's struggle within a family torn apart by war.

How does The Third Part of the Night portray gender?

Limited

The narrative focuses almost entirely on the male protagonist, Michał. Women are mainly portrayed as catalysts for grief or victims of systemic violence during wartime.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Third Part of the Night?

Fair

The film accurately depicts the ethnic reality of Nazi-occupied Poland. It highlights the conflict between Polish identity and the oppressive German forces.

How does The Third Part of the Night represent religion and culture?

Good

The story critiques institutional power and state authority deeply. It suggests that traditional ethics and religious beliefs become unsustainable under extreme totalitarianism.

Does The Third Part of the Night include disability representation?

Good

The film offers a nuanced exploration of mental health and neurodivergence. It delves into the protagonist's psychological breakdown through hallucinations and a fractured mind.

Present on Screen

Sophisticated portrayal of psychological trauma and mental health through a fractured, hallucinatory lens.
Powerful critique of institutional power and the soul-crushing nature of totalitarian regimes.
Authentic depiction of the ethnic and geopolitical realities of occupied Poland.

Limited or Absent

Heavy centralization of the male experience limits broader narrative ability to act.
Lack of LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight identities.
Women are often sidelined to roles as victims or catalysts for male grief.

Official Synopsis

Set during the Nazi occupation of Poland, the story follows Michał, who witnesses the murder of his mother, wife and child and then is hurled into a life that literally is not his own; a surreal world littered with trapdoors, doppelgängers and wormholes.

How are these scores produced? →