'Less Of A Stranger' Movie Ending Explained & Summary: What Happens To Janek Borysewicz?

Less of a Stranger, or Mniej obcy, is a new Polish biography drama film streaming on Netflix that is based on the life of guitarist and composer, Jan Borysewicz. The film follows Jan’s extreme passion to start his own rock band, his struggles at the height of success, and most importantly, his troublesome relationship with the communist government in Poland at the time, as well as with the Catholic religion that his mother wanted him to follow. Overall, Less of a Stranger lacks anything special and might be a more entertaining watch for those who know about the Polish musician already and are invested in his unusual career.

Spoiler Alert

What is the film about?

Less of a Stranger begins with a scene from Wroclaw in 1983, as the members of a rock band that has been increasingly gaining more popularity in the country, named Lady Pank, take to the stage for a show. Just 10 minutes earlier, the leader of the band, Janek Borysewicz, was met by two government officials, who clearly stated that the band must not perform their most successful song, named ‘Less than Zero’, because of its anti-government lyrics. But as the band takes to the stage, Janek begins the concert with that very song, resulting in groups of policemen barging in and attacking the fans gathered at the place, while he ponders about how he developed such an anti-authority stance. The film takes us back 14 years, with a 13-year-old Janek being spotted smoking on the street by his father and being dragged back home. 

The boy does not have a very healthy life back at home, with his mother having been diagnosed with a serious illness, because of which she will gradually lose her mobility, and his father is mostly absent and busy with his job in the government or administration. Janek’s only loving company is his elder brother, Andrzej, with whom he spends most of the day. Already a hot-headed boy who doesn’t hesitate to get violent if need be, Janek learns of a bully having beaten up his brother one day, and rushes to the garage where the incident happened, to take revenge. Not only does he beat the bully up but also becomes friends with him, and the bully, in turn, becomes a sort of private bodyguard for him. With the help of their new friends, Janek and Andrzej manage to get a wheelchair for their mother, and also to get extra ration for their family, in a socio-political scenario where the communist government controls every resource very strictly.

Janek’s only dream in life is to be a musician and start his own band, even though he has never really played music till now. Seeing this enthusiasm in him, Andrzej gifts his younger brother a guitar on his birthday, and the latter learns how to play it, rather skilfully, in a short time. Soon, he becomes popular in town as a guitar player, and groups consisting older boys and men often call on him to go perform for them. Amidst all this, Janek now also sadly grows distant from his brother, not because he wants to, but simply because he is unable to spend much time with Andrzej anymore. This eventually leads to a life-changing tragedy for Janek, in 1974, when Andrzej hangs himself to death after secretly suffering from depression for a number of years.

When does Janek create his own band?

By 1974, Janek Borysewicz is a popular name among musicians in the country, and he is hired by many of them to appear in temporary gigs or appearances as a guitarist. At a party during this time, he becomes friends with a man around his age, named Andrzej Mogielnicki. Mogiel, as he prefers to be called, is a lyricist who claims to be working for a number of bands at the time. It is he who informs Janek about the leading rock band in Poland, Budka Suflera, is looking for a guitarist for a project, and the protagonist gets the chance to play for the band. He is soon made a part of the band and travels out of the country for a concert for the very first time in his life. But things go sideways when the manager fires them while in Amsterdam, and as a result, Janek and his friends have to work as construction workers in the hopes that they will still be able to be part of the band.

This is when Janek decides to give it all up and return to Poland so that he can start his own rock band, as he has always dreamed of doing. He is even more inspired when the owner of a music store in Amsterdam sells him a guitar at a much lesser price after hearing of his dream of becoming the next Jimi Hendrix. Mogiel instantly agrees to be a part of his plan, and as they return to Poland, the two friends sit together to think of a name for their band. Their intention is to come up with a name that the English-speaking people in the West will be able to pronounce and remember easily, as they consider the chance of global popularity from this very time. 

Janek comes up with the name ‘Lady Punk’, which he feels is edgy enough to represent them, and as Mogiel reminds him that the title might be misleading as they do not play punk music, the protagonist modifies it to ‘Lady Pank’. This is how Janek’s very own rock band comes into existence, and he and Mogiel get hold of other musicians to be band members next. They are also in need of a vocalist, as Mogiel believes that Janek is simply not good enough, and he arranges for a young man named Janusz Panasewicz to come audition for the position. Janusz is the only outsider in the group, with everyone else having been friends from before, but Janek does not like him because of the fact that he is a serving member of the Polish Army. However, his voice and singing wins Janek over, and Janusz becomes a part of the group, completing the band.

But everything is not smooth sailing, as Janek and his friends have to work, or perform, in a terribly hostile environment, as Poland is taken over by martial law in 1981. Strict curfews and other restrictive laws are imposed all over the country, because of which the band’s performances, and even its meetings, are hampered. In fact, on the day that the martial law is imposed and announced, Janek and Mogiel are attacked by armed policemen on the streets for being out during curfew hours, and this experience inspires the protagonist to write the song ‘Less than Zero’, which is entirely about the problems faced by a layman in Polish society, especially a youngster, because of the draconian laws imposed by the administration. This is also a strong reason behind Janek not liking Janusz at first, but he quickly realizes that the singer does not represent his enemy, the Polish authorities, beyond his work hours.

Why does the American dream fail?

As Lady Pank gains immense popularity in Poland and leads the music charts repeatedly with their albums, they truly get the chance to go international. With the band already having gained recognition in Europe, they get an invitation from label producers in the United States of America. Janek and his friends soon head to the USA for a meeting with the producers, feeling happy that their dream has finally become a reality. This is the beginning of the realization of his American dream, Janek feels, as he has always wanted to move to the USA and be a musician in the country known for its free economy and ever expanding music culture. However, things do not go as planned, and the American dream is shattered by the end of the meeting.

The producers show enthusiasm in getting the Polish band to sign a deal with them, but are also very clear about certain demands that they have from the young men. Firstly, they want Lady Pank to perform as the opening act at a concert by Madonna, which is an outrageous demand for Janek and his friends, who don’t even seem to know who Madonna is. Next, the producers want to bring in their own composer, stating that they do not agree with Janek composing all the songs for the band. Lastly, the producers also want to replace Janusz with an American artist to be the lead singer, so that the band can get even more recognition in the country.

To Janek, all these demands are almost disrespectful, and quite understandably so. He does not want to give up the position of the composer, especially since he has been so successful at it, and he also stands up for Janusz, refusing to let him be replaced by some random producers. Janek talks about how he had come to the USA expecting to experience the sense of freedom that is always associated with the country, but then all the demands put forward by the producers are meant to curb all freedom of the band members. Thus, he and his team simply refuse to sign any deal and walk out of the studio, making it clear that they are not a bunch to compromise on their integrity and friendship for the sake of profit or popularity. Therefore, the failure of the American dream does not break them, but instead spurs them to make better music in their home nation.

How does Janek step into the trap set by his government?

With the increasing success of Lady Pank, the band’s anti-government, anti-establishment and sometimes anarchic stance also becomes widespread among the teenagers and youngsters in Poland. This becomes a problem for the communist government in power, who claim that such display of audacity is against the culture of the land, while in reality they want to avoid a scenario where too many citizens might question their decisions. This is why two representatives visit the band and order them to not perform the song ‘Less than Zero’, as seen at the beginning of the film. However, Janek loves messing with the authorities, especially when they tell him not to do something, and he ends up performing the song, resulting in chaos. The experience also makes him feel powerful against the government, as he realizes that he can genuinely inspire the masses through his music.

But the government also keeps building pressure, eventually by having an officer visit Janek and threaten to tarnish his public image by lying about how he was associated with the communist government despite claiming to be against them, and also about how he had caused his brother’s death. While the first point does not have much effect on the protagonist, the second point triggers him, as he is always very sensitive about his brother’s death, and this leads to Janek getting even more addicted to alcohol and drugs than he already was. This was possibly a trap set by the government to ensure that the musician brought his own downfall, and that is exactly what happens during a concert on Children’s Day sometime later.

Janek shows up at the concert in an inebriated and drunk state, and when some members of the audience, who could have been planted by the government, heckle him, he reacts in the worst possible manner. Janek abuses and insults the hecklers mid-performance and then even exposes himself and makes horrid gestures, all while there are thousands, including kids, watching him live. He is immediately arrested by the police and put in prison for public indecency, but more importantly, his public reputation takes a massive hit, and the chinks in his seemingly perfect armor become evident to his fans.

Are Janek and his band mates able to perform again?

Around this time, Janek’s oldest friend, Mogiel, leaves him and the band, no longer wanting to be associated with a man who is so directionless in his professional and personal lives. For some time, it seems like his career is truly over, as he is bailed out by his father on just one condition, that he gets himself admitted at a drug rehab facility. Janek does so, but eventually escapes from the place, before he then suffers a serious heart attack, at a comparatively young age. But ultimately, Janek’s life does fall into place, as he recovers from his ill health, and then his old bandmates, other than Mogiel, come together to support him. One of them uses his influence in the government to ensure that the band can perform again in exchange of a public apology by all the members, and especially Janek. Having realized the need to abide by at least some laws of society, Janek publicly apologizes to the government and to his fans for his horrible behavior earlier, and Lady Pank is finally allowed to perform once again.

What does the final scene mean for Janek’s topsy-turvy relationship with God? 

One of the central points in Less of a Stranger is Janek Borysewicz’s topsy-turvy relationship with God and religion that keeps changing throughout the film. As a young boy, Janek does not fear God like the others, but rather feels a friendly connection with religious matters, as evident from his habit of tickling the feet on the Crucifix. What completely ruins this bond is the horrible behavior of the priests who preach religion and go to any extent of strictness to ensure that youngsters always grow up to be compliant individuals who can be easily controlled. During one instance, he is ridiculed by a priest in front of his family members only because he had been growing his hair long, and innocently retorted when the man asked him a question. If such incidents shook Janek’s faith, the death of his elder brother completely broke it. He was driven to the idea that there was either no God at all, or that God was a supremely cruel character who enjoyed watching His followers feel pain. He spends a long time in his life with this belief, and it also plays a role in the kind of music that he composes. But years later, he softens his stance and even goes on a pilgrimage that he had promised to go to along with his brother, only to honor his memory. Here, he meets some interesting individuals who are almost successful in making him believe in God. But strangely enough, Janek always experiences deep pain or grief right after he somewhat starts to believe in God and religion, which really sums up his complex relation with such matters. 

As seen in Less of a Stranger’s ending, Janek ultimately comes to the conclusion that he cannot have a normal relation with religion, let alone understand it, and so he chooses to worship the only constant love that he has known so far. With the experiences he has gathered so far in life, Janek Borysewicz decides to worship music as his God and religion from here on.

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