“Through the Wall”: A True Story That’s Hard to Believe, Screening in New York

Maria Dębska, Jakub Gierszał, Arkadiusz Jakubik and Agnieszka Grochowska: Maciej Sobieszczański has assembled an impressive cast for his latest film, “Przez ścianę” (“Through the Wall”). The production stands out not only for its celebrated names but also for its distinctive visual style and carefully prepared sets. It is one of those films worth seeing on the big screen, especially for those who appreciate ambitious Polish cinema based on real events that are… hard to believe.

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“Przez ścianę” is a moving story about a love that was born in one of the darkest periods of Poland’s postwar history.

The film opens in November 1947. Wiesława Pajdak, 27, is arrested for her activity in the anti-communist underground and sent to the prison on Rakowiecka Street in Warsaw’s Mokotów district. A few days later, Jerzy Śmiechowski is placed in the neighboring cell. One night, the two young people make contact by tapping out messages in Morse code on the wall separating their cells. What seems at first like an innocent conversation grows into an extraordinary bond.

The lead roles went to Maria Dębska and Jakub Gierszał. The actress plays Wiesława Pajdak, and Gierszał plays Jerzy Śmiechowski. Dębska is one of the most recognizable actresses of her generation. Audiences remember her, among other roles, from “Bo we mnie jest seks,” in which she played Kalina Jędrusik. She received an award for that performance at the Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia. Gierszał, meanwhile, has appeared in such productions as “Sala samobójców” (“Suicide Room”), “Najlepszy” and “Doppelgänger. Sobowtór.” The pair on screen is rounded out by experienced performers: Arkadiusz Jakubik, Agnieszka Grochowska, Agnieszka Suchora and Jowita Budnik.

The production itself is also notable. Filming took place in Katowice, Zabrze, Gliwice, Siemianowice, Warsaw and Modlin, among other places. A particularly important location was the Detention Center in Zabrze, where the film crew was able to work in an authentic prison space. As a result, the filmmakers created an atmosphere that would have been hard to make as believable with studio sets alone.

At the 51st Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia, “Przez ścianę” won the Golden Lions, the top prize of Poland’s main film festival. The cinematography of Jolanta Dylewska was also honored. The film also received the FIPRESCI Prize, awarded by international film critics, at the Warsaw Film Festival, and Maria Dębska received a distinction from the jury.

It is a film for those who like cinema polished down to the last detail, with strong performances and an unconventional form. It is worth going to a screening to see how an outstanding cast and the exceptional work of the entire film crew bring to life a story that really happened.

The screening will take place on November 15 at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan as part of the Polish Film Festival North America. Tickets can be purchased at www.mojbilet.com.

Photo: Bartosz Mrozowski / Przez Ścianę

Source: Nowy Dziennik