International premiere

25 Years of Innocence. The Case of Tomek Komenda

Local title
25 aastat süütuna
Title in Russian
25 лет невиновности
Original title
25 lat niewinności. Sprawa Tomka Komendy
Director
Jan Holoubek
Country
Poland
Year
2020
Programme
First Feature Competition

Jan Holoubek’s debut film is a moving thriller drama which is based on an absurdly horrifying true-life story.

The life of Tomek Komenda was destroyed forever on a tragic night when he was arrested accused of a brutal murder, convicted in court and thrown into prison for decades. Despite years of humiliation, violence and injustice, Komenda kept his hope and humanity. His story attracted immense attention in Poland, which did not fade even when justice was established and the dirty course and motives of the process were made public. Jan Holoubek is mainly interested in the same question that the public asked while watching the process: how could a thing like that happen? Piotr Trojan plays the sincere and somewhat simple main character of the story with warmth that brings the entire tragedy terrifyingly close to the audience.

Holoubek follows the superhuman struggle of Komenda and his mother to preserve the last scraps of what makes us human in such a situation, trying to find assurance that it is possible to believe, care and not give up even on an utter road to hell. While not doubting her son’s guilt, Komenda’s mother supported him all those years.

Dagmar Raudam

First Feature Competition Special Jury Prize

Director
Jan Holoubek
Screenwriter
Andrzej Gołda
Cast
Piotr Trojan, Agata Kulesza, Dariusz Chojnacki, Jan Frycz, Lukasz Lewandowski
Producer
Anna Waśniewska-Gill
DoP
Bartlomiej Kaczmarek
Editor
Rafal Listopad
Music
Sarah Neufeld, Colin Stetson
Production
TVN, Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej
Runtime
Language
Polish
Subtitles
Estonian, English
Director
Jan Holoubek

Jan Holoubek (snd 1978) on lõpetanud Lodzi Filmikooli operaatori eriala 2001. aastal. On töötanud koos mitme Poola tippoperaatoriga nagu Edward Kłosiński ja Witold Sobociński, ning osalenud operaatorina arvukates tele- ja filmiprojektides. 2007 lavastas esimese lühifilmi „Sunlight and Shadow“, mis pälvis grand prix’ Młodzi filmifestivalil. 2018 lavastas Poola telesarja „Rojst“. „25 aastat süütuna“ on tema esimene täispikk mängufilm.

Best Film Award, grant of 5000 euros from National Geographic

Trailer
Q&A with the filmmaker