The gala premiere of “Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold”, directed by Xawery Żuławski, took place in Warsaw. The story of Jerzy and Helena Kulej is a long-awaited tale of the life of one of Poland’s greatest athletes and his wife – full of emotion, sporting rivalry and facts from the days of one of the first icons of Polish pop culture. The event drew numerous stars of show business and sport. The film opens in cinemas across Poland on Friday, 11 October.
The film’s cast appeared at the premiere – Tomasz Włosok, Andrzej Chyra, Tomasz Kot, Konrad Eleryk, Monika Mikołajczak, Sebastian Stankiewicz. Also present were director Xawery Żuławski and Waldemar Kulej, son of Jerzy and Helena and the originator of the film. Among the many guests were Olympic medallist Julia Szeremeta, Minister of Culture and National Education Hanna Wróblewska, Monika Olejnik, Maja Ostaszewska, Małgorzata Socha, Olga Bołądź and Katarzyna Zawadzka. The red carpet also welcomed the artists who appear in “Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold” as the singers of the Alibabki group – Ewelina Flinta, Marika, Ania Rusowicz. The premiere was hosted by Grażyna Torbicka.
TWO SIDES OF THE MEDAL… 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 1960s Poland. He – a legendary Polish boxer, two-time European champion and eight-time Polish champion, the only Pole to win two Olympic golds; and although he was never knocked down in the ring, in life he fell more than once. She – a strong woman who stood steadfastly by his side, but refused 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 Tokyo Olympics and then repeated the feat in Mexico City. It is a multi-layered story of an athlete, his triumphs in the ring and the colour of the era, but also a tale of the turbulent fortunes of the Kulejs’ marriage, in which a great love was put to the test of coping with great success.
THE FILMMAKERS
The film is directed by Xawery Żuławski, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Rafał Lipski. The crew features 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: Story of Michalina Wislocka”).
Distribution in Poland is handled by NEXT FILM.
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 the funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
“Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold” is 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, Bartłomiej Tyciński
Production design: Marta Skajnowska
Costumes: Anna Englert
Make-up: Agnieszka Hodowana
Sound: Mateusz Adamczyk, Jarosław “Bodo” Bajdowski, Sebastian Witkowski
Editing: Wojtek Włodarski PSM
Casting director: Marta Kownacka PCDG
Dance scenes director: Maciej Zakliczyński
Fight choreography, 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 Radosława Bardes, Andrzej Młynarczyk
Film co-production: Veles Productions
Film co-production: Systemics New Anna Szóstak, Paweł Biskupski
Distribution in Poland: NEXT FILM
Cast: Tomasz Włosok, Michalina Olszańska, Tomasz Kot, Andrzej Chyra, Bartosz Gelner, Konrad Eleryk, Monika Mikołajczak
