The most talked-about Polish film of the year now has a confirmed release date. Przez ścianę (Through the Wall), directed by Maciej Sobieszczański, will debut in Polish cinemas on 1 January 2027, according to Interia Film. The black-and-white drama, which won the prestigious Golden Lions award, tells an extraordinary true story of love that blossomed between two political prisoners separated by a concrete wall.
A romance told through Morse code
The film recounts the remarkable story of Wiesława Pajdak and Jerzy Śmiechowski, who met in the most unusual circumstances imaginable. In November 1947, Pajdak was arrested for her activities in the anti-communist underground and imprisoned at the Rakowiecka Street prison in Warsaw. Days later, Śmiechowski arrived in the adjacent cell.
One night, the two prisoners began communicating through the wall using Morse code. Despite never having seen each other, they fell deeply in love and became engaged through the wall that separated them. Seven years later, they finally married inside the prison, meeting face to face for the first time at their own wedding ceremony. The couple went on to spend 50 years together.
Maria Dębska, who plays Wiesława Pajdak, explained the unique challenge of portraying the story. “The film is in black and white. In a certain sense, it’s art cinema, but it tells universal stories. The most fundamental, most important ones, I think. And that captivated me,” she said in an interview with Artur Zaborski.
Told from one perspective
The director made a deliberate artistic choice to present the narrative entirely through Wiesława’s eyes. “We see this film from the perspective of Wiesia, my character, and we don’t see Jurek. We only see him when she sees him, so the viewer is led through this story by the heroine,” Dębska noted. She added that months of work went into filling the prison solitude with longing and dreams to make the unusual romance believable.
Film critic Kuba Armata praised the production in his review, stating that a disclaimer about the story being based on real events appears before the film begins – otherwise, audiences might find it impossible to believe. “This melodramatic story of two strangers, separated by a prison wall yet connected by deep feeling, grabs you not only by the heart but also by the throat,” he wrote.
Armata added that weeks after watching the film, he could still recall nearly every scene. The Golden Lions recognition has helped cement Przez ścianę as one of the most significant Polish cinematic achievements of recent times.
What this means for Poles abroad
For Poles living in the UK and the US, Przez ścianę offers an important cultural connection to a dark chapter of Poland’s post-war history under communist rule. The film documents the experiences of political prisoners who resisted the Soviet-backed regime, a period that shaped modern Poland and affected countless families whose members emigrated in subsequent decades.
Many members of the Polish diaspora have family histories intertwined with the anti-communist underground movement of the 1940s and 1950s. This film provides an intimate portrayal of that era, bringing personal stories to the screen in a way that connects with the lived experiences of older generations and educates younger Poles born abroad.
While the 1 January premiere is scheduled for Polish cinemas, international distribution details have not yet been announced. Poles abroad interested in seeing the film should check with Polish cultural institutes in London, New York, Chicago and other major cities, which often screen significant Polish productions. Film festivals showcasing Eastern European cinema may also include Przez ścianę in their programming throughout 2027.
