This 1978 Polish film by Feliks Falk hedges too close to cliche with its story of a professional master of ceremonies who’ll do anything to land the season’s plum assignment—hosting the 600th anniversary celebration of a provincial capital. But the glimpses of Soviet-bloc show biz spice it up (some of the acts look like John Waters outtakes), and star Jerzy Stuhr (Camera Buff) delivers a remarkable study of steely obsequiousness.
