Blood, sweat, tears and passion – the story of Jerzy and Helena Kulej is finally coming to the big screen. The screenplay by Rafał Lipski and Xawery Żuławski is an absorbing story about the life of one of Poland’s greatest sportsmen and his wife, shown through the prism of both triumphs and personal struggles. The film ‘Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold’, directed by Żuławski, will be released in cinemas on 11 October. Before that, it will compete for the Golden Lions at the 49th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. It stars Tomasz Włosok as Jerzy Kulej and Michalina Olszańska as Helena Kulej. You can already see the second trailer for the film!
The idea for the film came from Waldemar Kulej, son of Jerzy and Helena, who decided to present the fate of his parents on the big screen. He approached Krzysztof Terej and Piotr Woźniak-Starak of Watchout Studio with it: – In 2014, I went to the cinema to see the film ‘Gods’. Then I watched ‘The Art of Loving’ about Michalina Wisłocka, also made by Watchout Studio. In my naivety, but also with the conviction that if you want something badly enough, it will happen, I started to ‘walk’ by them. On the one hand, I believed that they were the only ones who could handle the subject so beautifully. On the other hand, I feared it was unrealistic, almost impossible. I wrote them an email. After two weeks, they wrote back to invite me to a meeting. I sat stressed, talking to Krzysiek Terej, watched vigilantly by the unfortunately late Piotr Wozniak-Starak. The end of the year came and I received an invitation from Piotr to a banquet, which was a summary of Watchout’s work. After the official part, he approached me and told me that they were going to make a film.
Xawery Żuławski was in the project from the very beginning: – In the story of the Kuleys, everything is given on a platter. The hero, the boxing, the fight, the ups and downs, the alcohol. If someone tells you that you can make a film about a boxer, moreover a double Olympic champion, you don’t say no.
However, the director did not forget how important Helena Kulej was: – ‘Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold’ is an epic cinema for everyone, not only for boxing enthusiasts, it is also a story for women. We want this film to reach a wide audience and give them positive energy. That it brings our champion closer, shows those times, but also addresses the present day. After all, Jurek and Helena in our film are a couple of very young people. They are also young, inexperienced parents. He at the peak of his career, she in his shadow. They want something from life. It’s not just a film about boxing, it’s also a story of love and life choices, a story about the power of women.
TWO SIDES OF THE COIN… AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
‘Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold’ is the story of Jerzy and Helena Kulej – the most colourful married couple of Poland in the 1960s. He – a legendary Polish boxer, double European champion and eight-time Polish champion, who was the only person to win two Olympic gold medals and, although he was never knocked out, he fell more than once in his life. She – a strong woman who invariably stood by his side, but did not want to remain in his shadow forever.
‘Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold’ focuses on the period between 1964 and 1968, when Jerzy Kulej won gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and then repeated the feat in Mexico. It is a multifaceted story of the athlete, his triumphs in the ring, the colour of the era, but also the story of the turbulent fate of Kulej’s marriage, in which great love was put to the test to cope with great success.
The role of Jerzy Kulej is played by Tomasz Włosok, Michalina Olszańska plays Helena Kulej. The role of Feliks Stamm will be played by Andrzej Chyra. Tomasz Kot plays the role of the Colonel, head of the Gwardia sports club. Other roles include Bartosz Gelner, Konrad Eleryk and Monika Mikołajczak.
CREATIVES
Xawery Żuławski is in charge of directing, together with Rafał Lipski he also wrote the script. The filmmakers include some of the biggest names in the Polish film industry, including Marian Prokop (cinematography), Anna Englert (costumes), Jan Komar, Mikołaj Majkusiak (music), Agnieszka Hodowana (make-up) The producer is Krzysztof Terej, Watchout Studio (‘Gods’, ‘The Art of Loving. The Story of Michalina Wisłockiej’).
Distribution in Poland is handled by NEXT FILM.
The film will enter cinemas on 11 October 2024. Before that, it will take part in the Main Competition of the 49th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia (23-28 September).
The film was produced in Poland with financial support under the Act on Financial Support for Audiovisual Production, granted by the Polish Film Institute from funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
‘Kulej. All That Glitter Isn’t Gold’ of the medal was covered under the honorary patronage of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism and the Polish Olympic Committee.
KULEJ. ALL THAT GLITTERS ISN’T GOLD
Directed by: Xawery Żuławski
Screenplay: Rafał Lipski, Xawery Żuławski
Cinematography: Marian Prokop PSC
Music: Jan Komar, Mikołaj Majkusiak
Set design: Marta Skajnowska
Costumes: Anna Englert
Character design: Agnieszka Hodowana
Sound: Mateusz Adamczyk, Jarosław ‘Bodo’ Bajdowski, Sebastian Witkowski
Editing: Wojtek Włodarski PSM
Cast Director: Marta Kownacka PCDG
Dance Scene Director: Maciej Zakliczyński
Fight direction, stunt coordination: Tomasz Krzemieniecki
Producer: Krzysztof Terej
Production: Watchout Studio
Production manager: Dagmara Bagnecka
Virtual Production: ATM Virtual
Virtual Production: Veles Productions
Veles Producer: Paweł Stawiński
Veles Producer: Artur Paprocki
Co-financed by: Polish Film Institute
Film co-production: ATM Virtual Radosław Bardes, Andrzej Młynarczyk
Film co-production: Veles Productions
Film co-production: Systemics New Anna Szóstak, Paweł Biskupski
Distribution in Poland: NEXT FILM
Starring: Tomasz Włosok, Michalina Olszańska, Tomasz Kot, Andrzej Chyra, Bartosz Gelner, Konrad Eleryk, Monika Mikołajczak