22-04-2010

FNE at FINALE Plzen FF: Competition: Janosik. A True Story

By Katarzyna Grynienko

    Janosik. A True Story, a Central European co-production from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, screens in the main competition of the Czech Finale Plzen festival.

    The Polish-Czech-Slovak-Hungarian co-production, based on one of the most legendary characters of the traditional Slavic culture, the Slovak robber Janosik, a Robin Hood-type character in the Slav tradition. His story was brought to the screen six times, one of which was a very popular Polish television series directed by Jerzy Passendorfer in 1974.

    Work on the film began six years ago, but was halted when financing ran out. Polish production company Apple Films (www.applefilm.pl) stepped in, and the movie went back into production in 2008. Slovak scriptwriter Eva Borušovičová based her script on seven years of research, with the result that the film is historically accurate. The international production features a Czech actor Václav Jiráček in the leading role.

    Telewizja Polska has commissioned a series based on the film, which will include materials not seen in the theatrical version.


    PRODUCTION: Apple Film Production

    CO-PRODUCTION: In Film, Telewizja Polska S.A., Charlie's,
    Eurofilm Studio, HBO Central Europe
    CO-FINANCING: PISF, Ministerstwo Kultury Republiki
    Słowackiej
    DISTRIBUTION Syrena Films


    Directing: Agnieszka Holland, Kasia Adamik
    Script: Eva Borušovičová
    Cinematography: Martin Štrba
    Music: Antoni Łazarkiewicz
    Set design: František Lipták, Marek Zawierucha
    Cosumes: Anita Hroššová, Magdalena Tesławska
    Montage: Michał Czarnecki, Marek Kráľovský
    Sound: Krzysztof Jastrząb
    Production manager: Paweł Bareński, Norma Kralovska
    Producers: Dariusz Jabłoński, Rudolf Biermann, Violetta
    Kamińska, Izabela Wójcik

    Cast

    Janosik Václav Jiráček
    Uhorczyk Ivan Martinka
    Huncaga Michał Żebrowski
    Margeta Maja Ostaszewska
    Zuzanna Katarzyna Herman
    Barbara Sarah Zoe Canner
    Anusia Táňa Pauhofová
    Babcia Janosika Danuta Szaflarska
    Szyposz Marian Dziędziel
    Gabor Eryk Lubos
    Baron Revay Rafał Maćkowiak
    Pierwszy Sędzia Maciej Kozłowski
    Matka Janosika Małgorzata Zajączkowska
    Lani Krzysztof Stroiński
    Satora Marek Probosz