THE PEASANTS
Premiere 13.10.2023
Movie description
THE PEASANTS tells the story of Jagna, a young woman determined to forge her own path within the confines of a late 19th century Polish village – a hotbed of gossip and on-going feuds, held together, rich and poor, by pride in their land, adherence to colourful traditions and a deep-rooted patriarchy.
When Jagna finds herself caught between the conflicting desires of the village’s richest farmer, his eldest son and other leading men of the community, her resistance puts her on a tragic collision course with the community around her.
The film’s screenplay is based on Władysław Reymont’s epic novel, for which he received the Nobel Prize, surpassing Thomas Mann, Thomas Hardy, and Maxim Gorky. As a novel, “The Peasants” is considered the most credible chronicle of the peasant community ever written. The novel has recently been newly translated and published by Penguin Classics.
Co-financed by the Polish National Foundation.
FILMED IN THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND WITH THE SUPPORT PROVIDED THROUGH THE ACT ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR AUDIO-VISUAL PRODUCTION BY THE POLISH FILM INSTITUTE AND FUNDED BY THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND NATIONAL HERITAGE.

THE PEASANTS
THE PEASANTS tells the story of Jagna, a young woman determined to forge her own path within the confines of a late 19th century Polish village – a hotbed of gossip and on-going feuds, held together, rich and poor, by pride in their land, adherence to colourful traditions and a deep-rooted patriarchy.
When Jagna finds herself caught between the conflicting desires of the village’s richest farmer, his eldest son and other leading men of the community, her resistance puts her on a tragic collision course with the community around her.
The film’s screenplay is based on Władysław Reymont’s epic novel, for which he received the Nobel Prize, surpassing Thomas Mann, Thomas Hardy, and Maxim Gorky. As a novel, “The Peasants” is considered the most credible chronicle of the peasant community ever written. The novel has recently been newly translated and published by Penguin Classics.
Co-financed by the Polish National Foundation.
FILMED IN THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND WITH THE SUPPORT PROVIDED THROUGH THE ACT ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR AUDIO-VISUAL PRODUCTION BY THE POLISH FILM INSTITUTE AND FUNDED BY THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND NATIONAL HERITAGE.

- Jagna Kamila Urzędowska
- Antek Robert Gulaczyk
- Boryna Mirosław Baka
- Hanka Sonia Mietielica
- Hanka Sonia Mietielica
- Dominikowa Ewa Kasprzyk
- Sonia Bohosiewicz
- Małgorzata Kożuchowska
- Andrzej Konopka
- Dorota Stalińska
- Maciej Musiał
- Julia Wieniawa
- screenplay DK Welchman, Hugn Welchamn
- directed by DK Welchman, Hugh Welchman
- cast direction Ewa Brodzka
- cinematography Kamil Polak, Radosław Ładczuk, Szymon Kuriata
- cinematography Kamil Polak, Radosław Ładczuk, Szymon Kuriata
- edited by DK Welchman, Patrycja Piróg, Miki Węcel
- artistic supervision Piotr Dominiak
- set design Elwira Pluta
- costumes Katarzyna Lewińska
- music Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski & Rebel Babel Orchestras (Laboratorium Pieśni, Julia Wieniawa, Tęgie Chłopy, Sutari, Szymon Lipiński)
- sound Michał Jankowski
- make up Waldemar Pokromski
- animation director Piotr Dominiak
- special effects Kamil Polak
- VFX suprvisor Łukasz Mackiewicz
- line producer Tomasz Wochniak
- producers Sean Bobbitt, Hugh Welchman
- production BreakThru Films
- coproduction CANAL+, DIGITAL KRAFT, Art Shot, Narodowe Centrum Kultury
- co-financing Polish Film Institute, Polska Fundacja Narodowa, Mazovia Warsaw Film Commission
- distribution NEXT FILM
- international sales agent New Europe Film Sales
- partners Juice, TELEVISOR Studio, Centrum Technologii Audiowizualnych, GS Animation
Photos and videos
Awards and nominations
-
Toronto International Film Festival
Special Presentation
-
48th Polish Film Festival
Special Jury Prize
-
48th Polish Film Festival
Audience Award
-
BFI London Film Festival
Official Selection - Dare Strand
-
Busan IFF
Flash Forward
-
Hamptons IFF
World Cinema Narrative
-
Academy Awards
Best Foreign Language Films - Polish candidate