krakataul: What would you recommend as "must see" movies from Polish cinema?
You know, the funny thing is I'm not all that fond of Polish cinema either :D I actually have not seen a lot of our most important classics, like most movie by Andrzej Wajda. Of course there are some polish movies I like a lot, even love, but on the whole most of it often doesn's click with me either, as you put it.
Still, there are some that I can definately recommend (I have no idea about their availabilty abroad though)
Potop/The Deluge our best, and perhaps the only truly successfull attempt at a sweeping war epic. But epic it truly is. It's got everything, war, huge battles, adventure, duels, politics and betrayal and a charming rogue with one hell of a character arc as the main character. If you decide to watch, be careful to get the original 315 minute cut. Yeah, it's super long but it's worth it. There recently was a new cut released that is almost 1/2 shorter, but I really think it's just a huge mistake.
Dzień świra/Day of the Wacko- honestly, I'm not sure if anyone outside of Poland can truly get this movie it's full of things I think particular to our country, but it is definately one of our best and most true, however twisted and cartoonish it may seem. I think everyone had a day like this, maybe more than one, when nothing seems to go right, all the little things that annoy you seem so much bigger than usual. It's darkly funny, hilarious sometimes, but also carries a lot of deeper reflection about life, the things we regret, the things we thin we regret and the like.
Jeszcze tylko ten las/Just beyond this forest - a very tragic (as you'd expect of anything to do with World War II and the holocaust), but beautiful and heartfelt movie about a woman trying to save a young Jewish girl and the relationship between them.
Cud Purymowy/Purim Miracle it was a TV movie, so I very much doubt you could find it, I'm not even sure if I could get it here, but I feel obliged to mention it, I liked it so much. It's about an anti-Semite family that learns they have Jewish ancestors, and in fact they will receive a huge inheritance after a jewish relative who died, but only if they embrace the jewish heritage. It really is a superbly clever little movie, that manages to tackle important issues we Poles often would rather ignore in smart, entertaining and hopeful way.