A new Polish biographical film about St Faustina Kowalska has entered production with an international cast led by American actor Neal McDonough, according to Interia Film. Filming began on 30 September in Parski near Łódź.
The project, titled “Między ciszą a szeptem” (Between Silence and a Whisper), focuses on the early life of Helena Kowalska, the Polish nun whose diary became the foundation of the Divine Mercy devotion and one of the most translated Polish books in history.
McDonough, known for his roles in “Yellowstone” and the Emmy-winning “Band of Brothers”, will portray Father Michał Sopoćko, the priest who became Faustina’s spiritual director. The title role goes to Maria Kowalska, who appeared in “Znachor”, whilst Polish-American actress Beata Poźniak, who featured in Oliver Stone’s Oscar-winning “JFK” alongside Gary Oldman, also joins the cast.
Beyond hagiography
Director Michał Kondrat, whose previous work includes “Prorok” (The Prophet), is steering the film away from conventional religious biography. Rather than presenting a saint with a halo, the production aims to portray a woman of flesh and blood who found courage to continue her mission despite fear, terminal illness and complete lack of understanding from those around her.
The narrative is set in 1925, when twenty-year-old Helena Kowalska, a simple village girl, enters a Warsaw convent. Working as a cook, gardener and gatekeeper, she is expected to labour hard and remain silent. Yet within the quiet of the convent walls, she begins to hear a voice that no one else can perceive.
Her fellow sisters mock her, superiors doubt her claims, and she herself begins to fear she is losing her mind. The turning point comes in Vilnius when she meets Father Sopoćko, the only person willing to listen. Meanwhile, a fatal illness begins to drain her strength, leaving her with limited time to write down the words she believes she has heard.
Oscar-calibre crew
The production brings together award-winning technical talent from across Europe. Cinematography is handled by Piotr Sobociński Jr., who shot the recent cinema adaptation of “Lalka” and the Oscar-nominated “Corpus Christi” (Boże Ciało). Production design comes from Joanna Hrisulidu, known for “A Winter’s Journey”, and Michał Krauze from “Prorok”.
Costume design is led by Anna Weber (“Bezmiar sprawiedliwości”), whilst make-up artist Tomasz Matraszek brings experience from “Ojczyzna” and the Oscar-winning “Ida”. Sound design is in the hands of British technician Tarn Willers, who won an Academy Award for “The Zone of Interest”.
The film is produced by Fundacja Filmowa Kolbe (Kolbe Film Foundation), whose previous titles have been released in cinemas across 30 countries. American distribution partner Fathom Entertainment will handle the North American release.
What this means for Poles abroad
The international scope of the production signals growing recognition of Polish historical and religious figures in mainstream cinema. For Polonia in the UK and the USA, the film offers an opportunity to see a significant piece of Polish spiritual heritage presented to English-speaking audiences with high production values and a recognisable Hollywood cast.
St Faustina Kowalska, who died in 1938, became one of Poland’s most influential religious figures worldwide. Her diary, published as “Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul”, has been translated into dozens of languages and inspired the Divine Mercy devotion now practised in Catholic parishes globally, including many Polish churches in Britain and the United States.
The involvement of Fathom Entertainment, a major North American distributor specialising in event cinema, suggests the film will receive wide theatrical release in the USA and Canada, making it accessible to Polish communities there. Release dates and UK distribution arrangements have not yet been announced.