NEWS
28/08/2017
„Krew Boga” Has Begun Shooting
Shooting is underway for Bartosz Konopka’s new film „Krew Boga”. We have the first photos from this unusual production.
KREW BOGA, dir. Bartosz Konopa / photo credit Bartosz Mrozowski
Oscar-nominated Berlinale winner Bartosz Konopka, author of the acclaimed “Rabbit à la Berlin” and the critically and commercially successful “Fear of Falling”, has begun shooting his next film.
“Krew Boga” is a contemporary reflection on the nature of faith and the church, with a visual style that is reminiscent of the uncompromising work of Nicolas Winding Refn, and the cult HBO series “Game of Thrones”. It stars Krzysztof Pieczyński (“Belfer”, “Ziarno prawdy”, “Jack Strong”), Karol Bernacki (“Amok”), Wiktoria Gorodeckaja from Teatr Narodowy in Warsaw, and one of today’s most original performers – the Frenchman Oliver de Sagazan.
KREW BOGA, dir. Bartosz Konopa / photo credit Bartosz Mrozowski
The film takes place in the early Middle Ages. The knight Willibrord (Krzysztof Pieczyński) miraculously escapes death and finds himself on the last pagan island in Europe. This down on his luck but grounded warrior would have died long ago if not for the help of Bezimienny (The Nameless One) (Karol Bernacki) – an idealistic young man who keeps his true identity secret. Despite their differing worldviews and approaches to religion, the men become traveling companions, united by their goal – finding and christening a pagan settlement nestled somewhere in the mountains. Even though this Christianization is the only way to protect the villagers from impending doom, the high priest of the pagans, and their leader Geowold, will both try to stop them. Their actions will put our protagonists’ views to a test. But Willibrord and Bezimienny will find an unexpected ally within this last bastion of the “Old Faith” – Prahwe, Geowold’s charismatic daughter. Soon love will come face to face with hate, dialogue with violence, madness with principles, and the resulting clash will claim many lives…
KREW BOGA, dir. Bartosz Konopa / photo credit Bartosz Mrozowski
“The film was inspired by several things. It springs from my deeply-rooted opposition to sacrosanct dogmas and authority figures. From my drive to look for dialogue and alternative solutions, which could reconcile different worldviews, instead of stoking the flames of conflict. Secondly – I was fascinated by peaceful revolutionaries such as Christ, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and others. Thirdly – I was inspired by the wisdom of silence, of inward concentration, of influencing people through one’s presence, as opposed to empty words and ubiquitous ideology” – says Bartosz Konopka.
KREW BOGA, dir. Bartosz Konopa / photo credit Bartosz Mrozowski
The script was written by Bartosz Konopka, Przemysław Nowakowski, and Anna Wydra. Jacek Podgórski is in charge of cinematography. Set design was done by Marek Warszewski, costumes by Marta Ostrowicz, and make up by Dariusz Krysiak. The film will be edited by Andrzej Dąbrowski. It is produced by Anna Wydra (Otter Films), and co-produced by Andrzej Białas and Rafał Bubnicki from Odra-Film (funds from the Lower Silesian Film Competition), and Jurgen Willocx and Melissa Dhondt from the Belgian company Earlybird Films.
The project was developed at the prestigious EAVE producer workshops, among other places. It has already scored its first success: the Krzysztof Kieślowski award for the best script developed during the ScripTeast workshops.
The principal producer, Otter Films, is being aided by co-producers: Earlybird Films from Belgium, and Odra-Film. The film is being co-financed by the Polish Film Institute and Eurimages. In Belgium, the production was co-financed by the regional fund Screen Flanders. During development, the project received a grant from the MEDIA and FPCA funds. It will be distributed in Poland by KINO ŚWIAT, and its sale to other markets will be handled by New Europe Film Sales.
“Krew Boga” is set to premiere in 2018. It will be shot in Poland: at the seaside near Ustka, and around Kudowa-Zdrój.
– Ed. (translated by Wojciech Góralczyk)