POLISH FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

KULEJ. DWIE STRONY MEDALU

2024 / 150 min / color

The story of Jerzy and Helena Kulej – the most colourful Polish couple of the 1960s. He was a legendary boxer, a two-time European champion, and the only Polish boxer to win two Olympic gold medals. Although he never got knocked down, in his personal life he was on the ropes quite a bit. She was a strong woman who always stood by his side but didn’t want to remain in his shadow forever. Xawery Żuławski’s film focuses on the period between 1964 and 1968, when Jerzy Kulej won gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and then repeated the feat in Mexico. Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold depicts the multi-faceted story of the athlete, his great triumphs in the ring, and his story of human weakness. The turbulent fate of Helena and Jerzy’s marriage shows how their great love was put to the test by the boxer’s enormous popularity, which he struggled to cope with. The backdrop to this story is the colorful Warsaw of the 1960s. The leading roles are portrayed with great skill by Tomasz Włosok and Michalina Olszańska, who convey with great authenticity the main characters’ dramatic yet humorous everyday life: a Warsaw social butterfly and a strong, independent woman.

A Q&A session with the filmmakers will take place during the film screening on May 3 at 2:00 PM at the Małopolska Garden of Arts – Mastercard Birthday Cinema.
Please note: the Q&A will be in Polish.

• “Eagles” Polish Film Awards – Audience Award;
• Gdynia PFF – Best Make-up, “Golden Kangaroo” Award