Name: Heart Parade
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: 2022-06-15T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Anna Próchniak, Michał Czernecki, Iwo Rajski, Piotr Rogucki, Monika Krzywkowska

The opening shot of Heart Parade lingers on a sleek Warsaw apartment, all sharp angles and cold neutrality—a perfect visual metaphor for Magda (Anna Próchniak), the film’s career-obsessed protagonist. She’s a woman who measures success in spreadsheets and disdains dogs, until a professional detour to Kraków forces her into the orbit of Krzysztof (Michał Czernecki), a widower whose life revolves around his son, their dachshund, and the city’s annual Dachshund Parade. Director Filip Zylber aims for a gentle romance, but the result is a film that feels more like a well-meaning misfire than a heartfelt love story.

At its best, Heart Parade captures the charm of Kraków’s quirky local culture, particularly in scenes set during the Dachshund Parade. The parade itself—a riot of sausage dogs and playful energy—provides a vibrant backdrop that contrasts sharply with Magda’s clinical worldview. Próchniak delivers a nuanced performance, conveying her character’s transformation from icy pragmatism to something warmer without ever tipping into cliché. Michał Czernecki is equally compelling as Krzysztof, grounding the film in an authenticity that keeps it afloat during its weaker moments.

But Heart Parade stumbles when it tries too hard to balance its romantic and comedic tones. The script’s reliance on broad humor—particularly in scenes involving the dachshund—often undercuts the emotional weight Zylber is clearly striving for. A subplot involving Magda’s scheming boss, Zula (Monika Krzywkowska), feels tacked-on, adding unnecessary complexity to a story that should be simple and sweet. The film’s pacing also falters, with several scenes dragging on longer than necessary, making it feel like an overlong made-for-TV movie rather than the cinematic experience it aspires to be.

Where Heart Parade truly missteps is in its lack of originality. The premise—a career-driven woman learning life lessons from a laid-back single dad—has been done countless times before, and Zylber doesn’t bring anything fresh to the table. The film’s attempts at humor often fall flat, relying too heavily on situational comedy rather than sharp dialogue or character-driven wit. Even the dachshund parade, which should be the film’s standout set piece, feels underutilized, serving more as a backdrop than an integral part of the story.

Despite its flaws, Heart Parade has moments of genuine warmth and sincerity, particularly in the performances by Próchniak and Czernecki. The chemistry between them is palpable, and their scenes together are the film’s emotional anchor.

Tags: comedies, Filip Zylber, Anna Próchniak, Heart Parade, Iwo Rajski, Michał Czernecki