“Too Old for Fairy Tales” – the last day of shooting

The shooting for “Too Old for Fairy Tales”, a film directed by Kristoffer Rus, has just ended. It is a sensitive tale about a boy who has to face difficult issues and take a big step into the grown-up world. The story is told in a language that is understandable and attractive to modern kids. Its young characters are trying to join a big video game tournament, but, on their way to victory, they realise that their passion for video games is less important than the power of love and friendship. The main children’s roles will be played by the following new actors: Maciej Karaś, Patryk Siemek and Amelia Fijałkowska, who will be joined on the set by Karolina Gruszka, Dorota Kolak and Andrzej Grabowski. The film will hit the screens next year.

I am very happy that we are taking our younger audience seriously. The whole team approached this project with a determination to create a smart but entertaining film that would not be intended solely for children. Now, after we have finished shooting, I am confident that our main actor will win the hearts of our audience. He is a very talented new actor, something that is quite rare in Polish cinema” – says Kristoffer Rus, the director.

“We always aim to create a film that is fun but also tackles an important issue… I am deeply convinced that we have managed to pull it off this time. This is a smart, dynamic and amusing story, told from the perspective of a very special character, and it will certainly win the hearts and minds of audiences of all ages” – adds Mikołaj Pokromski, the producer.

A spoiled ten-year-old boy, Waldek (Maciej Karaś) wants to join the largest European video game tournament. It seems that the illness of his mum (Karolina Gruszka) and his eccentric aunt (Dorota Kolak) will prevent him from fulfilling his dream, but, unexpectedly, it is because of these circumstances that the boy will gain something more valuable than a win in the gaming tournament. The screenplay was written by Agnieszka Dąbrowska herself, and it was based on her eponymous book. The book attracted a lot of positive attention from teachers and parents, and it was even dubbed as a must-read for the latter and their children.

The film is co-financed by Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej and co-produced by Mazowiecki i Warszawski Fundusz Filmowy. The producer of the film is Pokromski Studio.

“Too Old for Fairy Tales”

Cast: Karolina Gruszka, Dorota Kolak, Andrzej Grabowski, Maciej Karaś, Patryk Siemek, Amelia Fijałkowska

Director: Kristoffer Rus

Producer: Mikołaj Pokromski

Screenplay: Agnieszka Dąbrowska 

Cinematography: Jan Rus Słomiński

Set design: Aleksandra Kierzkowska

Costumes: Pola Gomółka

Make up: Waldemar Pokromski, Marta Szczerkowska

Sound: Grzegorz Kucharski, Jarosław Sadowski

Editing: Marcin Konarzewski

Co-financing: Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej

Co-production: Mazowiecki i Warszawski Fundusz Filmowy, Mazowiecki Instytut Kultury, Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa, Województwo Mazowieckie

Production: Pokromski Studio

“Black Sheep” trailer already avaliable

Making decisions that can turn our world upside down is not easy. However, you can’t avoid maturity and responsibility forever. The characters from “Black Sheep”, a bitter-sweet comedy, have to face some serious dilemmas. The members of the Gruz family are at the turning point of their lives… Will every character find their own path to happiness? We present you with the official trailer of “Black Sheep”, a film directed by Aleksander Pietrzak (produced by the TVN Discovery Group). The film will hit the cinemas on 13 August.

Watch the trailer

czarna owca, kamil szeptycki, włodzimierz press, agata różycka

czarna owca, kamil szeptycki, paweł plewa, michał sikorski

czarna owca, magdalena popławska, arkadiusz jakubik

 

The audience coming to the cinema to watch “Black Sheep” will easily identify with the characters. The film is about problems that we all have to deal with, even if we do not want to talk about them or we are scared to do so. The relations between the members of the Gruz family, despite the light tone of the film, make us reflect on our own lives. 

“There is no such thing as a perfect family. The members of my family in the film cannot communicate with one another and tend to hide their needs deep inside. I believe these are the main reasons why they have reached a major turning point of their lives” – explains Arkadiusz Jakubik, who plays the father of Tomek (played by Kamil Szeptycki). The role of the mother, Magda, is played by Magdalena Popławska, who described the relations between the characters as follows: “The problem of this family is the immaturity of its members. Magda is immature because she has been living a lie for many years. Her husband is immature because he cannot confront reality. And their son, Tomek, is simply still an immature kid”. In the film, apart from Popławska and Jakubik, we will see Kamil Szeptycki, Agata Różycka, Anna Cieślak, Anna Smołowik and Włodzimierz Press.

 

Watch the video

“Black sheep” is a bitter-sweet story about a modern family where everybody is fed up with something. When troubles, conflicts and desires that have been repressed for many years finally explode, everybody starts to live their own life. Or at least they think they do… Will they find their path to happiness? It is a film about bonds that are impossible to break. It gives humorous answers to many important questions regarding family relations and growing up.

Aleksander Pietrzak, director:

The film touches upon many topics, such as the choice between career and family, growing into the role of a father, the problems with finding yourself in a completely new life situation, but it mostly deals with the fact that when a child makes bonds, they last forever. Laughter and crying are the two most beautiful emotions. This is exactly what we get from a comedy drama and, hopefully, will also get from “Black Sheep”.

Anna Waśniewska-Gill, producer:

It is a universal story about growing up that everyone can identify with. It humorously depicts the intergenerational differences, problems caused by miscommunication and the fear of showing your true feelings. We wanted to show the truth about a family and different moments in the life of a small community. Funny moments, but sometimes also sad and scary ones. After the really difficult experience that we all have been sharing for a year now, we are aware that people long for positive emotions, and we are sure that “Black Sheep” by Alek Pietrzak can evoke such emotions.

“Black Sheep”

in cinemas as of 13 August 2021

Cast: Arkadiusz Jakubik, Magdalena Popławska, Kamil Szeptycki, Agata Różycka,
Anna Cieślak, Anna Smołowik and Włodzimierz Press

Director: Aleksander Pietrzak
Screenplay: Bartosz Kozera
Cinematography: Mateusz Pastewka
Casting director: Marta Kownacka
Producer: Anna Waśniewska
Executive producer: Rafał Ulicki
Production: TVN Discovery Group