21/12/2018 - Borys Szyc plays Józef Piłsudski in a film about Poland regaining independence in 1918 directed by Michał Rosa

Maria Dębska and Borys Szyc in Piłsudski

As 100 years of Polish independence come to an end, so does filming on the Józef Piłsudski biopic. The film’s final Martini Shot took place on location in Kraków on 13 December. Piłsudski is a national hero, who fought for Poland’s independence before becoming the newly independent country’s first Chief of State. Aside from being a fierce and talented politician and soldier, he was also a very passionate, complicated man. The upcoming biopic will present a multi-faceted portrait of Piłsudski.

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The action starts in 1901 in an asylum in Saint Petersburg where political prisoners were also detained, including 34-year old Józef Piłsudski (Borys Szyc, Cold War [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Pawel Pawlikowski
film profile]). With the help of Polish underground forces, Piłsudski is able to escape and reunite with his wife (Magdalena Boczarska, The Art of Loving [+see also:
trailer
film profile]). He also continues to battle for Polish independence with a group of trusted collaborators. The film was written and directed by Michał Rosa, an experienced Polish filmmaker and scholar. “We show Piłsudski at different points in his life: when he is on the top of the world, but also when he is full of doubt and depression. He is a man who understands that his dream world is very difficult to attain, but never ceases to fight for it,” states Rosa in a press release.

The film also stars Maria Dębska (Demon [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Tomasz Schuchardt (Demon), Józef Pawłowski (Warsaw 44 [+see also:
trailer
interview: Zofia Wichlacz
film profile]) and Eliza Rycembel (Nina [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]). Piłsudski [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile] was produced by Warsaw-based film studio Kadr. The film will be released in Poland by Next Film, with its national premiere scheduled for autumn 2019. The project received financial support from the Polish Film Institute and Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The film’s international sales are still under negotiation.