Proud Review: A Gritty Polish Drama Turns a Party Model into an Unlikely Dad

Lead: A Party‑Hard Model Forced into Fatherhood

Filip Raczyński (Ignacy Liss) lives a hedonistic late‑twenties lifestyle, bouncing between modelling gigs, club backrooms and drug‑fueled nights. The first episode of Proud pivots dramatically when his sister Anka dies, leaving him the sole guardian of her one‑year‑old daughter Tosia. The series immediately asks whether a self‑destructive gay man can become a responsible parent.

The Show’s Premise and Central Characters

• Filip Raczyński – a strikingly handsome model whose daily routine includes vodka, Diet Coke and a “bump of powder” in an Uber.
• Anka Boroń – Filip’s sister, a single mother whose death triggers the custody dilemma.
• Olek (Kamil Studnicki) – Anka’s nervous assistant, forced to manage Filip’s chronic lateness and his rescued dog.
• Kiki (Maria Sobocińska) – a makeup artist with a troubled past, part of Filip’s emerging chosen family.
• Tosia (Alicja Lewczuk) – the infant whose presence becomes Filip’s emotional anchor.

The narrative spends the first episode establishing Filip’s chaotic world before the tragedy forces him to confront responsibility.

Polish Cultural and Legal Backdrop

In Poland, a gay man adopting a child remains both culturally controversial and legally fraught. A solicitor in the series warns Filip that to keep custody he may have to “stop being gay for some time,” highlighting the systemic barriers faced by LGBTQ+ families. The show therefore operates on two levels: a personal drama and a commentary on Poland’s conservative legal climate, which contrasts sharply with the more permissive British audience the series now reaches via HBO Max.

Visual Storytelling and Black Humour

Director Karol Klementewicz and co‑writer Monika Pęcikiewicz employ close‑ups, ringing silences and striking colour palettes to give the series a cinematic feel. Black humour punctuates the bleak moments – for example, Filip’s naked audition and a chaotic swimwear shoot on Poland’s version of “This Morning.” The soundtrack, culminating in Kae Tempest’s “Hold Your Own,” underscores the emotional stakes while maintaining a gritty, almost documentary‑style realism.

Critical Reception and Future Outlook

Early reviews praise the ensemble’s chemistry, especially the tender scenes between Filip and Tosia, and the nuanced portrayal of a makeshift family that “loves Filip by putting up with him.” Critics note that while the series loses some nuance when exported outside Poland, its core themes of shame, yearning for connection and the fight against societal prejudice resonate universally. With three episodes released, the show has built enough empathy to keep viewers invested in Filip’s inevitable mistakes and growth.