"Miasto 44" in Slovakian and Czech Cinemas

Miasto 44 (Warsaw 44), a film directed by Jan Komasa and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, was be released theatrically in Slovakia and in Czech Republic on March 26, 2015.

Slovakian and Czech Premiere

Jan Komasa’s Miasto 44 (Warsaw 44) opened in Slovakia and Czech Republic on March 26, 2015. Distribution in Slovakia is handled by Barracuda Movie. Distribution is handled by CinemArt. The film was released in Poland on September 19, 2015.

Love in the Times of Apocalypse

Miasto 44 (Warsaw 44) is the story of young Varsovians, full of life and passion, living as if each day was to be their last. We first meet the film’s protagonists shortly before the start of the Warsaw Uprising. 18-year-old Stefan (Józef Pawłowski) is encouraged to join the underground movement by Kama (Anna Próchniak). He soon meets Biedronka (Zofia Wichłacz). The two girls compete over Stefan, but it soon turns out that all three of them will need to face the harsh reality of the uprising. In addition to fighting for love, they will need to fight for survival.

The Creators of Miasto 44 (Warsaw 44)

The film was written and directed by Jan Komasa, and lensed by Marian Prokop. Grzegorz Piątkowski and Marek Warszewski were in charge of production design, while Dorota Roqueplo handled costume design, with Magdalena Rutkiewicz-Luterek responsible for military costumes. The score was composed by Antoni Komasa-Łazarkiewicz. The film was edited by Michał Czarnecki. Miasto 44 (Warsaw 44) was produced by Akson Studio; distribution in Poland was handled by Kino Świat. The film stars Józef Pawłowski, Anna Próchniak and Zofia Wichłacz, with supporting performances by Tomasz Schuchardt and Antoni Królikowski.

A Film Supported by the Polish Film Institute

Miasto 44 (Warsaw 44) was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Special Effects in the Film

The film’s SFX consultant was none other than Richard Bain, whose credits include visual effects on Inception, Casino Royale, and Les Miserables. SFX were handled by Czech-based UPP, a company that has worked on such films as Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and the last film in the Die Hard series.

63 Days of the Uprising

The film was eight years in the making, and was shot on location in Warsaw, Modlin, Łódź, Wrocław, Walim, and Świebodzice. To recreate the demolished city, the art department used 5,000 tons of rubble. Over 63 days of filming, the film featured a total of 3,000 extras. The production budget was 24 million PLN. On July 30, 2014, a special screening of the film was held at Warsaw’s National Stadium.

Miasto 44 (Warsaw 44) International Premiere

The film had its international premiere in South Korea at the 19th Busan International Film Festival, screening in the festival’s Flash Forward section, dedicated to young directors from outside Asia.

Translated by Karolina Kołtun