Gorky Resort
| Pojedynek | |
|---|---|
| Polish | Pojedynek |
| Directed by | Łukasz Palkowski |
| Screenplay by | Dżamila Ankiewicz Agatha Dominik Robert Gliński |
| Cinematography | Piotr Sobociński Jr. |
| Edited by | Nikodem Chabior |
| Music by | Bartosz Chajdecki |
| Distributed by | Monolith Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 113 minutes |
| Countries | Poland Ireland Ukraine Cyprus |
| Languages | Polish English Russian French |
Gorky Resort (Pojedynek) is a 2026 feature film directed by Łukasz Palkowski, a co-production of Poland, Ireland, Ukraine and Cyprus.[1] The distributor describes the film as a historical thriller,[2] and some press announcements present it as a production in a “wartime noir” aesthetic.[3] The theatrical premiere in Poland was on 27 February 2026.[1]
The screenplay for the film grew out of an earlier text under the working title Sanatorium Gorkiego by Dżamila Ankiewicz and Robert Gliński, based on their short stories; the printing of excerpts was to appear in the monthly magazine Dialog (issue 12/2002).[1]
Filming and locations
According to a report by Polskie Radio Rzeszów, part of the filming was carried out in the church in Stare Oleszyce, used on set, among other things, as the interior of the “monastery” (detention centre) from the film (the NKDWD camp in Kozelsk in Optina Monastery).[4][5][6] Information about filming scenes at this location was also provided by announcements of the regional premiere in Rzeszów.[7][8][9]
A song composed especially for the production, performed by Mrozu and Julia Pietrucha.[10]
Plot
The plot is related to events after the Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939 and to the film's depicted attempt to “break” Polish elites through isolation and indoctrination in a centre set up in a former monastery.[3] The film's action begins in 1939; thousands of Poles, isolated in a former monastery, are subjected to brutal indoctrination.[1] The plot focuses on a psychological game between a young Polish pianist, a laureate of the Chopin Competition, and a Russian agent who tries to break the protagonist's resistance, counting on influence over fellow prisoners.[1][11] The film is associated with the thread of mass arrests of the Polish elite by the USSR in 1939 and the pianist's clash with an NKVD agent.[12]
The axis of the plot is a psychological game conducted by an NKVD agent against a selected prisoner (the pianist), whose goal is to force a capitulation that could influence the attitudes of fellow prisoners.[3][10]
Cast
Source: FilmPolski[1]
- Jakub Gierszał as Karol Grabowski
- Aidan Gillen as Major Vasily Zarubin
- Bogusław Linda as Dr Piotr Nowak
- Julia Pietrucha as Janina Lewandowska
- Wojciech Mecwaldowski as Leon Sztein
- Mateusz Kościukiewicz as Stefan Artymowski
- Antoni Pawlicki as Antoni Tucholski
- Tomasz Kot as Lavrentiy Beria
- Anna Próchniak as Anna Grabowska
- Paul Freeman as coachman
- Magdalena Koleśnik as activist Wanda
- Daria Polunina as Tania
- Grzegorz Palkowski as pilot Maciej Gąsienica
- Krystian Pesta as Andrzej “Zyga” Grabowski
- Grisza Gorobuczuk as Sasha Zarubin
- Viktor Zhdanov as Tseytlin[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Pojedynek". FilmPolski.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Pojedynek". Monolith Films (in Polish). 5 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ a b c Trojanowska, Gabriela (17 January 2026). "To będzie film o wojnie inny niż wszystkie. Znamy datę premiery polskiego thrillera w stylu "wartime noir" z Lindą i Gierszałem". Elle.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Pojedynkowali się w Starych Oleszycach". Polskie Radio Rzeszów (in Polish). 22 July 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "27 lutego na ekrany kin wchodzi "Pojedynek"". e-civitas.pl | Portal o tematyce katolicko-społecznej (in Polish). 16 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Psychologiczny pojedynek w cieniu historii. Nowy film o Kozielsku porusza sumienia [Wideo]". FRONDA.PL (in Polish). 000000. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Przedpremierowy pokaz filmu "Pojedynek" z udziałem twórców w Rzeszowie". Podkarpacki Informator Kulturalny (in Polish). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ ""Pojedynek" ze scenami ze Starych Oleszyc przedpremierowo w Rzeszowie". elubaczow.com (in Polish). 12 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Wydarzenia w Kinie ZORZA w Rzeszowie". Kino Zorza w Rzeszowie (in Polish). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ a b Olejniczak, Agata (14 January 2026). "Nowy film wojenny z Jakubem Gierszałem lada moment w kinach! Opowie o pojedynku polskiego oficera i rosyjskiego agenta". Glamour (in Polish). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ a b Mikrut-Majeranek, Magdalena (23 March 2025). ""Pojedynek" w reż. Łukasza Palkowskiego to superprodukcja osadzona w realiach II wojny światowej". Histmag.org (in Polish). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ Dachnij, Kamil (17 September 2025). "Polski film, na który warto czekać. Tylko u nas zwiastun "Pojedynku"". Onet Kultura (in Polish). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
External links
- Film page at the distributor (Monolith Films)
- Pojedynek in the FilmPolski.pl database