Operation: Nation or Kryptonim Polska is a Polish comedy film that follows Staszek, a member of a nationalistic goal who begins a relationship with a left-wing activist. It is now streaming on Netflix.
Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers
Plot summary
The film starts with the Polish extreme right-wing group Radical Youth Society aka RYS celebrating the birthday of Hitler. Their leader is Roman.
Staszek is leading an ordinary life with an uninspiring job and a ruthless boss who refuses to give him a contract or a permanent role.
Pola, a left-wing activist, is shocked when her boyfriend cheats on her and doesn’t show any remorse. She decides to return to her home town, Białystok.
Roman and the rest of the RYS are put on trial but due to ‘inconclusive’ evidence of them promoting a totalitarian regime, they aren’t charged.
Roman and Staszek are cousins. After the trial, Staszek is recruited into the RYS. When asked to brainstorm, Staszek suggests a livestream that promotes the values of the group.
They want to burn a Jewish plush doll to make a statement, but it doesn’t catch fire, ruining Roman’s plan.
At a bar, the RYS members ask Staszek to attack a left-wing paparazzi. He starts trying to flirt with Pola, but ends up getting attacked, prompting a conversation between her and Staszek.
They hit it off and get each other’s numbers, with Staszek already imagining being married to her at this point.
The RYS find a new headquarters in a parish after lying to the priest that they promote family values. Staszek and Pola start dating.
Staszek’s parents are worried, not about the RYS, but whether he is gay or not. Pola attempts to interview the RYS for her MA thesis. Staszek hides his face to avoid being recognised by her.
The RYS are about to meet a fellow racist Italian but he is attacked by other racists and ends up in a hospital.
At a food joint, the RYS members start a fight with the owner and attack him for not being white. Mieszko, one of the members, is stabbed and Roman thinks they are being attacked.
The RYS begin protesting against the anti-fascist activists. The riot is stopped with police interference but Pola notices Staszek on the side of the RYS.
After being arrested, he and Pola have an argument where she tells him he is exactly like all the other RYS members, causing a rift between the two. He is bailed out by his father, who is a police officer.
Operation: Nation ending explained in detail:
Does Staszek stop the RYS?
Staszek gets a haircut and starts to accept himself as a member of the group. Roman decides to send him undercover.
His plan is to make them believe that he is part of the LGBTQ+ community and infiltrate them. He is joined by another RYS member, Mariusz. They attend an LGBTQ+ party as a couple and come to know that there will be a parade.
Roman comes up with a plan and gets his hands on weapons. They plan to plant a bomb at the parade. Staszek is shocked when he realises this. He tries to appeal to Roman not to kill people.
However, they tie him up and go ahead with the plan. Staszek tries to call the police but ends up reaching Pola instead, who is back with her ex-boyfriend.
When she hears that Roman plans to detonate a bomb, she decides to help. She and her boyfriend free Staszek and they rush to the parade.
Roman tells an RYS member the code to detonate the bomb, but covers his ears while saying it and he is unable to remember. Pola tries to stop them but Roman interferes and takes the detonator.
Despite his attempt, the bomb does not go off. Mariusz diffused it at the last moment as he found a girl in the activist group.
Do Staszek and Pola end up together?
The diabolical plan is finally thwarted thanks to the combined efforts of Staszek, Pola and Mariusz. Roman is arrested.
Staszek and Pola start kissing, having reconciled after their spat. Pola’s ex-boyfriend can only helplessly watch as they get back together.
What happens to Roman?
An RYS member takes complete blame for the mission and claims to be their leader, freeing Roman. In the end, Roman tries to create a new organisation called The Polish Youth. But the meeting is cut short due to the appearance of Wojtas, a Polish Minster.
He states that he wants someone like Roman to become a deputy minister. The radical man now has the political power to act on his messed-up ideology.
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