A Polish nominee for the Oscars has been announced. The film „The Peasants” is set to contend for the prestigious title of Best International Film.

At a press conference held at the end of September at the Polish Film Institute’s offices in Warsaw, it was revealed that the Polish selection for the Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category is the animated adaptation of Władysław Reymont’s „The Peasants” (pl.”Chłopi”) directed by Dorota Kobiela-Welchman and Hugh Welchman. 

The decision on this matter was reached by the Oscar Committee through a vote of 4 to 2. The committee was composed of the following members: Ewa Puszczyńska (chairwoman), Radosław Śmigulski, director of PISF (Polish Film Institute), Aneta Hickinbotham, a producer, Ewa Piaskowska, a screenwriter and producer, Allan Starski, a set designer, and Maciej Ślesicki, a director and screenwriter.

The chairwoman of the Oscar Committee highlighted that the makers of „Loving Vincent” have produced another remarkable animated film, reaching a higher degree of vibrancy in animation, where the camera isn’t merely a spectator but an engaged participant. She also mentioned the positive reviews the film received in the international press.

„In addition to all the artistic values ​​that the film has, it also raises important and still current social issues – oppression against women, their dependence and even belonging to a man, sexual violence and mobbing. This story – based on the book that won the Nobel Prize – will be understandable all over the world, across borders and political divisions, hopefully. (…) The international sales agent for the film is Jan Naszewski from New Europe Film Sales, who is currently closing a contract with a very important distributor in the United States.”

Puszczyńska noted that among the submitted films, aside from „The Peasants,” the Commission also considered movies such as „The Green Border” by Agnieszka Holland, „Woman of…” by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, and „Pianoforte” by Jakub Piątek. Despite the potentially significant differences in how the Commission’s decision is perceived, not only within our film community, she urged all of us to genuinely hope for an Oscar nomination for „The Peasants.” Such a nomination would also reflect positively on Polish cinematography, she emphasised.

Simultaneously, the Chairwoman of the Commission, representing all its members, expressed profound dismay and strong opposition to the hateful and indiscriminately offensive campaign that targeted the makers of the film „The Green Border”, especially its director Agnieszka Holland, initiated by members of the government and the president.

„Until recently, it was unimaginable for a minister, prime minister and president of a large country in the middle of Europe to focus on reviewing a film instead of matters important to the country and people, using unrefined, deeply offensive terms and using them in an election campaign. On behalf of all creators, we do not agree with politicians limiting or exploiting our creative freedom” – she said.

Sean Bobbitt, the producer, said the film has already been sold to most countries around the world. „We will be seeking a nomination not only for the best international film but also for the best-animated film, and we are also considering the best music category because after the screening in Toronto, many people in their reviews also drew attention to the role that music plays in this film. We have already completed the „Loving Vincent” campaign, so we know what it looks like, especially when it comes to animation.”

The world premiere of „The Peasants” occurred in early September during the Special Presentation section at the Toronto Film Festival. The film was also featured at the 48th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. Although it was among the favourites for the Golden Lions, the film ultimately secured its creators two distinctions: the Audience Award and the Special Award.

Like Dorota Kobiela-Welchman and Hugh Welchman’s previous work, „Loving Vincent,” this film also employed the technique of painting animation. In this case, their primary source of inspiration was the artwork from the Young Poland era. 

The cast also included, among others: Ewa Kasprzyk, Sonia Bohosiewicz, Małgorzata Kożuchowska, Andrzej Konopka and Maciej Musiał. Kamil Polak, Radosław Ładczuk and Szymon Kuriata are responsible for the photos, and Łukasz L.U.C. for the music. 

Author: Patrycja Bodzek-Kurzyńska

Photo: Chłopi Official Teaser / Next Film