Polish military intelligence had a special breed of spies — their method was identity theft, and the stakes were the death penalty. “Doppelgänger. The Double”, the new film directed by Jan Holoubek, is a psychological thriller inspired by truly Hollywood-worthy stories. The TVN Warner Bros. Discovery production is the opening film of the 48th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. It arrives in cinemas on 29 September. We present the film’s trailer and poster.
– Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of spies. Some simply operate under their own names, working in embassies, for instance as consuls. The Doppelgänger method is much rarer and riskier. These are people who operate under cover, with changed — usually stolen — identities, blending into society. In the days of the Iron Curtain, such “doubles” operated on both sides and would have faced grave consequences if caught — up to and including death sentences – says Jan Holoubek about the film, his next production (after “25 lat niewinności. Sprawa Tomka Komendy” and “Wielka woda”) inspired by real events.
The new trailer for “Doppelgänger. The Double” is now available online.
– Operating under cover for so long takes its toll on the character — on his psyche, on the way he perceives the world and functions in it. You have to see the film to find out how Hans coped with it – says Jakub Gierszał, who plays one of the lead roles.
THE STORY
The film takes viewers back to the turn of the 1970s and 1980s, and its action unfolds on both sides of the Iron Curtain simultaneously. Hans Steiner (Jakub Gierszał) lives in vibrant Strasbourg, making the most of the opportunities the West has to offer. He blends into the local community while carrying out espionage activities. Jan Bitner (Tomasz Schuchardt) lives with his family in Gdańsk and works at the shipyard. On the surface nothing connects the two men, yet the past hides a secret that will force them to confront their own weaknesses and passions. Both will face a question about their own identity.
THE FILMMAKERS
“Doppelgänger. The Double” is an international production mounted on a grand scale. Alongside Jakub Gierszał and Tomasz Schuchardt, the cast includes Wiktoria Gorodecka, Katarzyna Herman and Andrzej Seweryn, as well as international stars Emily Kusche, Joachim Raaf, Nathalie Richard and Jessica McIntyre. The film was shot on location in Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Gdańsk, Sopot, Bydgoszcz and Toruń.
The film is produced by TVN Warner Bros. Discovery and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
*****
DOPPELGÄNGER. THE DOUBLE
Genre: drama / psychological thriller
Premiere: 29 September 2023
Screenplay: Andrzej Gołda, in collaboration with Jan Holoubek
Directed by: Jan Holoubek
Cinematography: Bartłomiej Kaczmarek
Production design: Marek Warszewski
Casting: Żywia Kosińska
Costumes: Weronika Orlińska
Make-up: Mirela Zawiszewska
Editing: Rafał Listopad
Production manager: Tomasz Parnowski
Producer: Anna Waśniewska
Produced by: TVN Warner Bros. Discovery
Co-financed by: Polish Film Institute
Production: Poland 2023
Distribution: Next Film
Cast: Jakub Gierszał, Tomasz Schuchardt, Andrzej Seweryn, Wiktoria Gorodeckaja, Katarzyna Herman, Sławomira Łozińska, Krzysztof Dracz, Adam Ferency, Zofia Stafiej, Emily Kusche, Nathalie Richard, Joachim Raaf, Jessica McIntyre
