
TheBytomareawasonceknownforitscoalmines,butstructuralchangehascaughtupwithit,too.ThedeclineoftheregionisvividlydemonstratedbythepawnshopoftheSilesiancity.ProbablythebiggestofitskindinPoland,theshophasseenbetterdays.JolaandWiesiek,theidiosyncraticoperators,areeachtryingintheirownwaytocopewiththecrisisandrevivebusiness.<br/> TheclosingoftheminesandtheresultingunemploymentinBytomleftbehindallthosewhowereunabletoadapttothenewage.Inthehugehall,theyputincreasinglyabsurdandworthlessobjectsonthecounter.Theoncelucrativetradeinjewellery,electricdevicesandfurniturehasdwindledandhoweverhardtheemployeeswork,thetillstaysempty.Thewiringisunsound,nervesarerawandthetonebetweenthemgetsrougher.Beforetheyknowit,thesmallbusinesshasturnedintoakindofcounsellingcentre:dryingtears,ladlingoutsoupandgivingawaygoodsinsteadofsellingthem.Jolainhervoluminousfurcoatalwayshasanopenearandawarmblanketready.Wiesiekdevisesonemarketingschemeaftertheother.Butwillitbeenoughtosavetheirbusiness?Adocumentaryreportfromthe“PolishDetroit”,observedwithdelicacyandpitch-blackhumour.