Polish Films Fight For Nominations For European Film Awards

“Mr Jones” by Agnieszka Holland, “Werewolf” by Adrian Panek, “Clergy” by Wojciech Smarzowski and “High Life” by Claire Denis were on the list of 46 productions that will be nominated for European Film Awards.

“Mr Jones”

The young journalist Gareth Jones (James Norton) gained fame by writing an article about his meeting with Adolf Hitler, immediately after he took power in 1933. Now the ambitious Welshman is preparing for another big topic – the rapid modernization of the Soviet Union. To investigate the matter thoroughly, the reporter decides to travel to Moscow to interview Stalin. On the spot he meets the young journalist Ada Brooks (Vanessa Kirby), working for Walter Duranty (Peter Sarsgaard), thanks to whom he discovers that the truth about the Stalinist regime is brutally suppressed by Soviet censors. Hearing alarming rumors about the great famine in the USSR, Jones goes on a lonely journey through Ukraine. The journalist becomes an eyewitness to the Holodomor tragedy. Millions of people are starving, while tons of grain are sold abroad to finance the industrialization of the Soviet empire. After returning to London, Jones writes an article showing the horror he experienced. The publication is muted and its authenticity undermined by Western journalists who are influenced by the Kremlin. Despite the deadly threats, Gareth continues to fight for the truth. He decides to share his discoveries with a young, aspiring writer – George Orwell.

“Clergy”

A few years ago, tragic events combined the fate of three Catholic priests. Now, on each anniversary of the disaster of which they miraculously survived, clergymen meet to celebrate the fact of their survival. On a daily basis their life look very different. Lisowski (Jacek Braciak) is an employee of the curia in the big city and makes a career dreaming of the Vatican. The problem is that Archbishop Mordowicz (Janusz Gajos) stands in his way, a dignitarian who uses political influence in the construction of the largest sanctuary in Poland … The second priest – Trybus (Robert Więckiewicz), unlike Lisowski is a village pastor. Serving in a place full of poverty, he is increasingly giving in to human weaknesses. Kukula (Arkadiusz Jakubik) is also not doing very well – despite his fervent faith – he is losing the trust of his parishioners overnight. Soon, the stories of the three clergy will merge once again, and the events that will take place will affect their lives.

“Werewolf”

Summer of 1945. A temporary orphanage is established in an abandoned palace surrounded by forests for the eight children liberated from the Gross-Rosen camp. Hanka, also a former inmate, becomes their guardian. After the atrocities of the camp, the protagonists slowly begin to regain what is left of their childhood but the horror returns quickly. Camp Alsatians roam the forests around. Released by the SS earlier on, they have gone feral and are starving. Looking for food they besiege the palace. The children are terrified and their camp survival instinct is triggered.

“High Life”

The plot: somewhere in a distant galaxy, outside our solar system Monte raises his daughter Willow aboard a spaceship in complete isolation. He became a father against his will. They used to be part of a crew of ex-prisoners and convicts who were sent like guinea pigs into space to find the black hole closest to Earth. Now, years later, Monte and his daughter remained on board.

The European Film Awards will be handed out on December 7 in Berlin.

A full list of films applying for the nomination can be found here.