I finally sat down and watched the Wojciech J. Has cinematic realization of Count Jan Pocki’s labyrinthine classic, which truly fits Borge’s description of a “book of sand” with neither beginning nor end. The film does not disappoint, although much of the complexity of the book–as well as the occult lore–wasn’t transposed to the film. Instead we are given a rich black and white canvas with superb cinematography by Mieczyslaw Jahoda, and wonderful touches like rare racing pigeons pacing over the tables of an inn while the characters take turns telling stories about the supernatural and about love. Count Potocki is an intriguing figure–a polymath in many fields, a pioneering ethnologist and linguist, an aeronaut, and a suicide. I wish that more information were available in English about this man. Meanwhile, I must rely on my Polish friends to keep me informed. Read the book and see the DVD! Although the running time is a full three hours it is well worth the investment of your attention.