Janosik. Prawdziwa historia (2009)

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Scheduled to be released by TiM Film Studio on January 14, 2010 (making its way from screen to BD in less than 4 months).

Młody Janosik, wypalony wojną, zawiedziony w miłości, trafia do zbójeckiej drużyny. Wkrótce zostaje jej przywódcą i zaczyna się cieszyć sławą dzielnego zbójnika, który przestrzega honorowego kodeksu – nikt z napadniętych nie może zginąć. Wraz ze sławą, rośnie jego uwielbienie u kobiet. Sukcesy Janosika budzą jednak zazdrość jednego z członków bandy, chciwego i butnego Huncagi… Zmysłowa, okrutna i pełna pasji, prawdziwa historia Juraja Janosika. Oparta na faktach opowieść o młodym zbójniku, którego krótkie i intensywne życie stało się legendą.

140 min.

The film (A Polish-Czech-Slovak-Hungarian co-production) is the work of one of the world’s most renowned women directors Agnieszka Holland and her daughter Kasia Adamik. The eponymous hero was a legendary highland robber who is described by many as Central Europe’s answer to Robin Hood but filmmakers stress it not quite in accordance with the historical facts.

The movie shows the true face of Janosik who was hardly an idealist. In an interview for Polish Radio, Czech actor Vaclav Jiracek, who plays Janosik, said that Janosik liked adrenaline and had he lived today he would have probably been a car rally driver.

Janosik, the historical figure, was born in 1688 in Slovakia, which was under the rule of the Habsburg monarchy at the time. As a teenager he took part in an anti-Habsburg uprising led by Rakoczy in Hungary. He later joined the Austrian army and, while serving in a regiment guarding a prison for dangerous criminals, he met Tomas Uhorcik, the ringleader of mountain robbers. Janosik helped him escape, deserted the army and joined the bandits, subsequently becoming their leader. He was caught, put on trial and executed in 1713.

The script, by the Slovak writer Eva Borushovichova, is based on the historical documents from the interrogation and trial of Janosik.

Technical specifications are sketchy at this point, but indicate that it will include Polish and Slovak audio in Dolby Digital 5.1, and Polish subtitles. Region B.