Kulej. All That Glitters Isn’t Gold

The story of Jerzy and Helena Kulej, the most vibrant married couple of the 1960s in Poland. He is a legendary boxer, a two-time European and eight-time Polish champion, the only Polish boxer to have won two Olympic golds, and though never knocked out in the ring, collapsing many a times in his private life. She is a strong woman, always there by his side, but refusing to stay in his shadow forever. The film focuses on the 1964-68 period when Jerzy Kulej won gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo only to repeat that feat in Mexico. It’s a multifaceted story of the sportsman’s successes on the ring and the colours of the era, but also a tale of the turbulent fate of the Kulejs’ marriage where great love was put to the test while trying to tackle a great success.

trigger warnings: alcohol, violence, sex, vulgar language