A gripping story about the times of transition, deals and the struggle for dreams with horse racing in the background. Filming is underway for the production of ‘Wielka Warszawska [Great Warsaw Race]’. The star-studded cast includes Tomasz Ziętek, Marcin Bosak, Tomasz Kot, Agnieszka Żulewska and Ireneusz Czop. The screenplay for the film was written back in the 1980s by Jan Purzycki. The author of the classics ‘Wielki Szu [Big Shar]’ and ‘Piłkarski poker [Soccer Poker]’. ‘Wielka Warszawska [Great Warsaw Race]’ is a return to the world of gambling and scams already familiar to viewers from these cult titles. Bartłomiej Ignaciuk is responsible for directing and adapting the script.
‘Wielka Warszawska [The Great Warsaw Race’ is the story of a young jockey dreaming of a sporting career. The culmination of these dreams is the participation in the most important race in Poland – the Great Warsaw Race. The main character – Krzysiek – enters the horse racing environment with the naivety of a novice and an enthusiast. Only after some time does he realise that racing is a network of dependencies, powerful interests and manipulation of results. The boy believes he can change this, especially as the country stands on the brink of great change. The fall of communism offers hope that the future will only get better and the rules brighter. However, in a world of corruption and foul play, it is hard to remain flawless. Will Krzysiek manage to resist big money and a fast career? How much is he willing to sacrifice to shatter the prevailing system?
‘Wielka Warszawska [Great Warsaw Race]’ is a gripping story about sport, the mafia and the fight for dreams set in the turbulent early 1990s. A sensational, realised spectacle set in the world of horse racing. The film is the culmination of a trilogy by Jan Purzycki, which, in addition to ‘Wielka Warszawska [Great Warsaw Race]’, includes the already cult productions ‘Wielki Szu [Big Shar]’ and ‘Piłkarski poker [Soccer Poker]’.
– The world of ‘Wielka Warszawska [Great Warsaw Race’ will be fascinating! The hermetic reality of racetrack dwellers, the subculture of gamblers, the mix of the elite and the semi-literate – all in an era that has already passed away, reveals director Bartłomiej Ignaciuk. –‘It’s a fascinating task to recreate the analogue era, where information circulates as fast as a chaser can run, and in the case of a story about gambling, this is of great dramatic importance.
COMPLETION OF THE CULT TRILOGY
‘Wielka Warszawska [Great Warsaw Race]’ is set in 1991 – a colourful time when new fortunes were being made and the rules of the game were changing after the fall of communism. The screenplay was written by Jan Purzycki – author of the cult productions ‘Wielki Szu [Big shar]’ and ‘Piłkarski poker [Soccer poker]’- and the title was intended from the start to complete his film trilogy about big money, gambling and scams. Years ago, however, the artist did not manage to realise the project and, just before his death (in 2019), he handed over his last work to producer and friend Tadeusz Lampka – then president of MTL Maxfilm. The adaptation of the script and the preparation of the project was handled by Alicja Grawon-Jaksik, who joined MTL Maxfilm at the end of 2022.
‘WIELKA WARSZAWSKA [THE GREAT WARSAW RACE]’, GREAT CINEMA
‘Wielka Warszawska [Great Warsaw Race]’ is one of this year’s biggest cinema releases in Poland – a production that will bring the world of 30 years ago to life on screen. Before this happens, however, the filmmakers are in for some hard work. Nearly 3 000 extras will appear on set during the shooting, which will last a total of 41 days over 4 months and will be shot mainly at the Służewiec Race Track in Warsaw. In addition, period props will play a part in the production – including 300 vintage cars borrowed from motoring museums and private collectors, or props immanently connected with the world of horse racing, which is unknown to the general public. To create the shots during the races, a special mechanical horse mockup was built to realistically convey the dynamics of racing during the acting scenes. Some of the costumes were imported from abroad, including from the famous Czech film studio in Barrandov. Most of the footage shot will require digital processing – so that contemporary buildings and advertisements disappear from the screen and Warsaw’s streets look like they did in the 1990s.
The unusual project has attracted leading Polish filmmakers. In ‘Wielka Warszawska [Great Warsaw Race]’ we will see, among others, Tomasz Ziętek, Marcin Bosak, Tomasz Kot, Agnieszka Żulewska and Ireneusz Czop. The film will also feature Mary Pawłowska, for whom this is her debut on the big screen. Bartłomiej Ignaciuk is responsible for directing and adapting the script. The producer is Alicja Grawon-Jaksik of MTL Maxfilm, the distributor is NEXT FILM.
The premiere of the film is scheduled for 2025.
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WIELKA WARSZAWSKA [GREAT WARSAW RACE]
Premiere: 2025
Cast: Tomasz Ziętek, Marcin Bosak, Tomasz Kot, Mirosław Kropielnicki, Tomasz Sapryk, Agnieszka Żulewska, Ireneusz Czop, Andrzej Konopka, Piotr Trojan, Mary Pawłowska
Directed by: Bartłomiej Ignaciuk
Screenplay: Jan Purzycki, Bartłomiej Ignaciuk
Cinematography: Klaudiusz Dwulit
Production design: Janusz Mazurczak
Editing: Andrzej Kowalski
Costumes: Małgorzata Gwiazdecka, Joanna Pamuła
Character design: Marcin Rodak
Music: Jan Komar
Sound: Teresa Bagińska
Producer: Alicja Grawon-Jaksik
Production: MTL Maxfilm
Co-financed by: Polish Film Institute, Mazovia and Warsaw Film Fund
Partners: Totalizator Sportowy, Służewiec Race Track, Sopot Race Track (Hippodrome)
Distribution: NEXT FILM
FILM PRODUCED IN POLAND WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT UNDER THE ACT ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION, GRANTED BY THE POLISH INSTITUTE OF FILM ART FROM THE FUNDS OF THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND NATIONAL HERITAGE.