Tomasz Wolski
The Big Chief
Leopold Trepper, a WWII spy mastermind, faces a Kafkaesque struggle in 1970s Poland, battling communist persecution, denied a passport, and enduring a hunger strike before finally finding freedom in Israel.
SYNOPSIS
LEOPOLD TREPPER, WWII spy mastermind, faced a Kafkaesque struggle in 1970s Poland. Once a WWII hero, his “Red Orchestra” fame made him a target for the communists. Stripped of his job and under constant surveillance, he desperately sought a passport but was denied. The USSR, his former ally, saw him as a burden. News of his plight reached France, and the activities of the committee for Trepper's release began. Author GILLES PERRAULT urged him to emigrate, but attempts to document his story or pressure Poland were thwarted by the secret police. A French film crew faced confiscation of their film footage. Baseless accusations of espionage further complicated matters. Finally, after a hunger strike and mounting international pressure, Poland relented. Trepper left, eventually settling in Israel. His story embodies espionage, betrayal, and the unwavering will to survive.
DIRECTOR
Tomasz Wolski
PRODUCER
Anna Gawlita
CO-PRODUCER
Maria Choustova
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Kijora Film sp. z o.o.
CO-PRODUCTION COMPANIES
INA (France)
ATOMS & VOID (Netherlands)
TVP SA
IPN
MIK
KBF
COUNTRIES
Poland
Tomasz Wolski
TOMASZ WOLSKI graduated from Wajda School, received his Ph.D. at the Lodz Film School, and participated in Berlinale Talents. He is a member of the European Film Academy. His feature-length documentary IN UKRAINE (2023) premiered at Berlinale 2023, and his previous film, 1970 (2021), has been screened at more than 50 international festivals worldwide and has won numerous awards, including Visions du Réel, Krakow Film Festival, ZagrebDox, Festival Film Dokumenter, and Batumi International Art House Film Festival. He is also an editor of BABI YAR. CONTEXT AND THE KIEV TRIAL (2021) by Sergei Loznitsa, A DIARY OF A JOURNEY (2013) and 21XNY (2016) by Piotr Stasik, and HORSE RIDERS by Anna Gawlita.
Production company profile
KIJORA FILM is a creative space to develop and produce fiction and documentary films. We work on author-driven films that seek new forms of expression and correspond with contemporary life and society. Our productions have been screened and awarded at Berlinale, Visions du Réel, IDFA, Palm Springs FF, Slamdance, Ji.hlava IDFF, Camerimage, Cork FF, Krakow FF, and many other festivals. Our filmography contains various and appreciated projects from directors such as Tomasz Wolski, Piotr Stasik, Agnieszka Polska, Zuzanna Solakiewicz, and Tomasz Wolski & Piotr Pawlus.