Hatred

A small village in the south-western part of Volhynia, populated by Ukrainians, Poles and Jews. 1939. Zosia Głowacka is in love with a Ukrainian boy from her village. But her father decides to marry her off to the richest farmer, a Pole, Maciej Skiba, a widower much older than her and with two children.

The life of the village is altered, first by the Soviet occupation and nearly two years later by the German attack on the USSR. The following year sees the hunt and brutal killings of Jews. Meanwhile, although not supported by the Germans, the Ukrainian aspirations to establish a sovereign country are constantly rising. The tension between the Polish and Ukrainian neighbours increases, as well. There are quarrels, people disappear. News of the bloody events from Eastern Volhynia reach the village. Finally, in the summer of 1943, there’s an outbreak of murders and cruelty. Troops of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) attack Polish settlements and often equally ruthless Poles take revenge on the Ukrainians. Amongst this sea of hatred Zosia’s trying to save her children.

written by Wojtek Smarzowski
director of photography Piotr Sobociński jr PSC
music by Mikołaj Trzaska
production design by Marek Zawierucha
costume design by Wanda Kowalska, Paweł Grabarczyk
military costumes by Magdalena Rutkiewicz-Luterek, Agata Drozdowska
make-up by Ewa Drobiec
sound by Jacek Hamela, Katarzyna Dzida-Hamela
edited by Paweł Laskowski PSM
cast Michalina Łabacz, Arkadiusz Jakubik, Jacek Braciak, Maria Sobocińska, Wasyl Wasylik, Adrian Zaremba, Lech Dyblik, Izabela Kuna
produced by Film it
producer Dariusz Pietrykowski
executive producers Dariusz Pietrykowski, Andrzej Połeć, Feliks Pastusiak
co-produced by Narodowy Instytut Audiowizualny, Denaro – Paweł Karpiński, Canal+ (ITI Neovision), Bemar, Telewizja Polska, Andrzej Łudziński Productions, Odra-Film, Narodowe Centrum Kultury, OXY Net
production manager Paweł Bareński