All language subtitles for Leave.No.Traces.2021.POLISH.1080p.BluRay.H264.AAC-VXT

FILM BASED ON
HISTORICAL MATERIALS AND EVENTS

SOME CHARACTERS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
HAVE BEEN ALTERED OR INVENTED

PRESENTS

IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH

A POLISH FILM INSTITUTE
CO-FINANCED PRODUCTION

A FILM BY

LEAVE NO TRACES

WARSAW, 1983

Stay alert!

What?

- Mother needs me at the salon.
- What?

Are you shitting me?

- I just passed my finals.
- Half of them.

- My old man will lose it.
- As always.

Finals come about once.

You wish!

You shouldn't go there.
You're useless with that hand.

Why take a risk?

They broke my hand,
so that I wouldn't go there.

- Go where?
- On Piwna to prepare packages.

- With one hand?
- Just to sort them.

Brussels sent a truck.

And Jerzy wants to leave.

- My father will be furious.
- He will be anyway.

- What's that?
- He'll be furious anyway.

Just ask yourself.

Who's more important,
me or your father?

Be honest.

- Will there be cigs?
- Yes.

- For political prisoners.
- Agnieszka can go.

I have a delivery
to the Wrocław jail.

Marek is picking me up.

I'm going.

I'm here!

- Appetizers would be nice.
- Jerzy wants to leave.

But finals come around just once!

One bottle's for you.

You can't go home drunk.

I'm going out.

No drinking, you hear?

Would you iron
that blue skirt for me?

Sure.

Is Małgorzata here?

- In the kitchen!
- I need some prescriptions.

Jerzy, get over here!

Yeah!

- Well?
- Almost ready.

- My classmates will be there.
- Where?

- In the Old Town.
- It's a big place.

Why the long face?

- I got a call-up.
- What date?

- Next week, the 17th.
- That's my birthday!

- You're safe, man!
- I don't know.

They let me off.

The son of Barbara Sadowska,
a Solidarity revolutionary.

And they keep locking her up,
so what are you worried about?

They let you off 'cause you're nuts!

- No fucking military service for me!
- Keep it down!

Take it easy.

Dominik likes the smell of napalm
in the morning.

You'll be fine, I guarantee it.

- Then it's Dębki for the summer.
- You can't guarantee shit.

- Dębki and the sea!
- Stop it!

Have you considered the possibility
that you might not get into university?

- Of course not.
- And what if you don't?

I haven't considered this
because I will.

But what if you don't?

- Forget it.
- You don't believe me?

- You don't!
- I do.

- I believe you.
- Okay.

And you?

The shipyard in Gdańsk is employing.

I could go there.

I'd be at the seaside,
away from my folks.

I'd have a life.

We've walked across
the entire Old Town.

They're not here.

Strange.

Great friends.

- Come on, I want a drink.
- Let's go.

Stay alert!

On your feet.

Get up!

ID.

- On what grounds?
- On such that he said so! ID!

Don't have mine.

- Come up here for a moment.
- ID.

- No.
- Here.

Your pals roughed it up badly
the last time.

- I leave it at home.
- Easy!

- Come on.
- We can settle this right here!

- To the station!
- Get in!

- Now!
- Let go!

Fuck!

Get in! Sit! You hear?

Get out. Come on.

- Move it!
- Go!

Come on!

Door!

Identity document.

I don't have to carry one.

ID!

Martial law's been suspended.

We have to teach the punk
to carry an ID!

What a wiseass.

Think you're so smart?

His mother can bring his ID!

Now what?

Fucker!

Grab him!

Goddamn rookies!

Not on the back.

Hit the stomach,
so you leave no marks.

- Grab him there.
- Pick him up.

- Stand there!
- Let him go...

Fuck!

Let him go, for fuck's sake!

- Let him go!
- Again!

Easy!

Calm the fuck down!

Calm down!

- Easy!
- Let go!

Let go!

Call an ambulance.

Mass in the cathedral is ending.
Clear the station!

Yes, sir!

Tell them he's a psycho.

They'll just send orderlies
without a doctor.

Sit your ass down!

Grzegorz!

- Good day.
- Hello.

Goddamn bastards!

That's the mental?

Some junkie.
We had to calm him down.

- What do you want us to do?
- Just take the psycho.

He's no psycho!
He's been badly beaten!

- Grzegorz, these are doctors.
- Orderlies.

It will be okay.
Just go with them.

- I'm coming too.
- There's no room.

- How the fuck's that?
- It's a small ambulance.

Where are you taking him?

- Where are you going?
- Hoża Street.

Get out, please.

No need to pretend any more.

I'll get the doctor.

He dropped his ID.

Are you a doctor?

And who's asking?

Jerzy Popiel. A friend.

He's not a psycho.
He's just been badly beaten.

Grzegorz!

Let go!
I was in the Militia station!

They beat him so bad,
he could hardly walk!

Lift your shirt.

No marks, Mr Popiel.
But I can smell alcohol.

What do you mean?
They kept kicking him!

With heavy boots!

They'll pump his stomach,
and he'll feel better right away.

But he isn't drunk!

He isn't drunk!

Referral to the psych ward.
Transportation.

And the observation room for now.

Sonny...

Sweetheart...

It's me, Barbara.

Can you hear me?

My son was beaten up.

You think electroshocks
and stomach pumping

will help him get better?

You should have
kept an eye on the snot.

The law states that

a patient can be referred
to a psychiatric hospital

only upon the request of the patient,
or his family member,

or upon a court
or prosecution request.

- Got it?
- Yes.

Eleventh floor!

Want a fresh compress?

No need. This one's still warm.

They messed me up real bad.

Not as they usually do,
with batons.

They kept kicking me all over,
and they elbowed me...

There was this...
young blond guy there, my age.

Then this sergeant came out,

and started shouting at them
not to leave marks.

- I'll rinse the towel.
- But what do they care?

What do they care?

I should have
brought him here yesterday.

Why did I take him home?
Stupid me.

Stop it. He was in the ER.

Not your fault
an idiot examined him.

He just got lucky
with the conscription commission.

If he doesn't take his finals
next week,

he won't go to university,

and he will be drafted.

What's the situation?

They are operating on him.

Was he there alone?

No.

We have to take down
your statement.

Do you want to
report the beating?

She does.
Those fuckers have to pay.

Sorry to interrupt.

My name is Lenczewski,
I assisted during surgery.

We finished the operation,
your son was closed up.

We were unable to find an intact
intestine section long enough

to create a fistula.

My son has
school-leaving exams next week.

It's essential that he takes them.

Will it be possible?

No. It won't be possible.

Your son is dead, I'm sorry.

Here's the death certificate.
Autopsy in a few days.

I wrote in the file,
"Beaten by Militia officers."

Thank you.

Forget mass!

We should go out there
and fuck them all up!

- Mass is good.
- Just take it easy!

Take what easy?

Ever seen a friend
vomit his own faeces?

Nothing to be easy about!

I just think
we shouldn't provoke them.

Mass at Kostka's church?
Given by the communists' worst enemy?

Mass! Really?

Father Popiełuszko
would draw crowds.

Should more people die?

We can't be ashamed of this death.

Pretend it didn't happen.

If Grzegorz's parents approve,
I will say mass.

This will end badly.

So we have to be smart about it.

We must preserve the truth,
and hide Jerzy.

I'm not hiding.

You're the sole witness.
Only you saw what happened.

No.

I did nothing wrong.

Remember what they told you last year?

That you were off the hook,
but now they would get to your son.

Jerzy...

You must hide.

We will have justice
only if you live.

Militia.
Is Jerzy Popiel here?

- Am I being detained?
- Where is he?

I will talk only to the prosecutor.
If I'm not detained, then goodbye.

Militia, open up!

Małgorzata, they're here...

Right at my door.

I stepped out,
but I'm afraid to go back.

Right outside the flat.

Yes. Please.

Hello?

Hi, Małgorzata.

Karol Małcużyński.
Małgorzata called me.

This is my boss, Kevin Ruane.
We work for BBC.

Gentlemen!

What are the legal grounds
for your presence here?

Who's in charge here?

Why?

Would you answer a few questions
for the BBC morning news?

Out!

It's this room.

You'll be safe here.

Let's wait for the world to find out.

Nothing!

Goddammit!

"Civic Militia officers
detained two drunken

and disorderly men in Castle Square,
Jerzy P., 23, and Grzegorz P., 19.

Considering Grzegorz P.'s
aggressive behaviour

and his injuries,
the officers called an ambulance..."

What fucking injuries?

This is nothing but lies.

They can't lie so openly like that.

And in a newspaper.

Barbara, what are you hoping for?

I hope the Prosecution will determine
who killed my child,

and that this person
will go to prison for a long time.

How many did they kill
during martial law?

The Militia and the ZOMO.
Forty? Fifty?

Do you remember any trials?

What did you think
our papers would print?

What are you saying?

That I can't promise you a trial.

Much less any convictions.

Is General Kiszczak in?

So?

There is a possibility

that he sustained injuries
at the Jezuicka station.

Possibility bordering on certainty.

Radio Free Europe is making noise.

Solidarity is rallying masses
to attend his funeral.

He was a young boy,
a high school graduate.

Son of Barbara Sadowska.

- Who's that?
- A poet.

Solidarity.
Primate Assistance Committee.

Injured in the row last week.

The opposition claims
that we threatened

to beat up her son.

That we planned this.

- And did we?
- Not in the Third Department.

Anywhere else?

Nothing suggests the Ministry
had anything to do with this.

It must have just happened.

What do you suggest, comrade?

Comrade General,

let's give this to a prosecutor
sympathising with the opposition.

It would look good.

We'd deal with this
and clear the air.

We'd find sadists on the force,
but that happens all over the world.

Grażyna Popiel?

Yes, what is it?

Is Jerzy Popiel your son?

Yes.

Is he home?

He's in Warsaw.
What's wrong?

He's implicated in murder
and wanted by the Militia.

Report him
as soon as he returns home.

He'll show up.

They will find him.

Why can't I go?

What can happen at the funeral?

If the Security Service grabs you,
you'll be gone.

Just like Grzegorz.

From Barbara.

When Bednarkiewicz says so,
you'll go to the Prosecution to testify.

Good day, prosecutor.

Could this have happened earlier?

From a fall?
An accidental hit?

Madam prosecutor...

Diffuse peritonitis.
Ruptured liver.

Massive perforation of blind gut
and ascending colon.

Mesenteric haematoma.

Necrosis of multiple sections
of the small intestine.

Someone drove a truck over him,
then put it in reverse,

and did it again.

Satan...

dared to commit a crime
so horrible

that all of Warsaw
was dumbstruck in terror.

In a bestial manner,
he took away a mother's only son.

And a river of tears has opened
to once again water

the spring of solidarity,

maybe in some cases
already drying up.

My dearest...

You are angry
about Grzegorz's death.

But don't let yourselves
be provoked.

We will walk
to the cemetery in silence.

Let this silence be
the reflection of your strength.

- How many?
- Hard to tell exactly.

How many?

Few thousand.

Fifteen, twenty thousand.

The underground writes
that even sixty.

But this isn't a political matter.

It is now.

Comrade General,
comrade General Beim is here.

Should I send him in?

It makes no sense
to start a beating in broad daylight

with so many witnesses around.

But we'll check
all possible threads.

There's a witness.

An uneducated drunken bum
from Siedlce. That's a witness?

What do you suggest, commandant?

A task force.

Under Colonel Kmiecik's command.

It will investigate
all possible versions of events.

The most likely version is that
the boy was beaten up by orderlies.

In broad daylight?
With even more witnesses?

We have be like fingers
that make a fist.

Or hell knows
how this could end for the ministry.

And each one of us.

Is this Barbara Sadowska's flat?

No, General Jaruzelski's.

- I need Barbara Sadowska.
- Here.

Help yourselves, I'll make more.
You must be very hungry.

Barbara Sadowska?

Yes?

Tadeusz Popiel,
Jerzy's father.

Nice of you to drop by.

We're celebrating Grzegorz's birthday.
He's turned nineteen.

Three days ago, to be exact.

I'm looking for my son.

Don't worry, Jerzy is safe.

But where is he?

He's hiding with a very good family.

Close acquaintances
of Father Popiełuszko.

They can be fully trusted.

- Where would that be?
- I'm sorry, I can't say.

I can pass a letter.
That's all I can do.

Sorry, but the guests
are waiting for food.

Here's a desk and some stationery.
Jerzy will get your letter.

Next item on the agenda,

visit of Pope John Paul ll in Poland.

Comrade Secretary Milewski.

Before we move on
to strictly organisational matters,

I believe we have
a slight public image problem,

connected with the case
of one Grzegorz Przemyk.

The Politburo has agreed
to host the Pope's visit

to show that things
are returning to normal.

I have here

some reports from Western media,

and there's nothing in them
about the Pope.

But there's quite a lot
about Grzegorz Przemyk.

"A young poet,
son of an opposition poet,

battered by Civic Militia officers."

This scandal is the doing
of external forces.

If you look at the photos
from the funeral,

you will see thousands,

some would say
ten of fifteen thousand people.

They couldn't have
organised it themselves.

It's being controlled externally.

There you go.

No Polish word starts
with the letter "V".

Apparently, there is an eyewitness,
one Jerzy Popiel,

who claims that Przemyk
had been battered at a Militia station.

Where did you get such information?

From his testimony
at the prosecutor's office.

I asked to profile this person,
and I wouldn't call him a witness.

This is a highly suspicious individual

who associates
with tramps and thieves in Siedlce,

and maintains relations
with prostitutes.

A common drug addict,
as was Przemyk himself.

And a homosexual too.

Ask yourself, comrade,
is that a witness?

Strange kind of homosexuality

that allows one
to live with prostitutes.

Personally, I would never believe

that Przemyk was beaten up
by our boys on Jezuicka.

Still, that would have to be proven.

But there is
circumstantial evidence

that Przemyk was incapacitated
at the station.

No wonder, since he was
under the influence of drugs.

There is a thread we are checking,

that Przemyk's screams which allegedly
were heard at the Militia station,

were not screams of pain,

only karate shouts,
which he and his friends practised.

The injuries could have come
from a training session.

Maybe they hurt themselves.
There are many possibilities.

Comrades, let me stress
that my ministry is without blame.

These boys, Kościuk and Babicki,
are regular drafted soldiers.

All they can do
is patrol and ID people.

If we truly wanted to deal with Przemyk,
we'd send professionals.

Excuse my slightly emotional tone,

but this issue
is causing great distress,

and I'm not sure how the Militia
will behave the next time around.

Comrades...

let me propose a solution.

To prevent getting
bogged down in details,

let us establish
a coordinator for this matter.

I think that the right person
for this would be

comrade Secretary Milewski,
responsible for security.

And it is, I believe, a priority

to leave comrade
General Kiszczak's ministry

to do their work

and investigate this matter
thoroughly.

Thank you for your trust.

Barbara, please.
Have some.

I don't want to.

Can you sit up?

I can't.

You have to eat something.

I don't want to.

Maybe you give it a try.

So...

Popiel is the only obstacle
in our path

to an honest and thorough
investigation of this case.

Operation "Junior" to which
you have been assigned

aims to neutralise this obstacle.

A two-pronged approach.

Firstly, we'll be looking
for a starting point,

any sort of dirt on Popiel
or anyone in his family.

Secondly, just in case,

we're working on the proper version,
the emergency room story.

The entire Security Service
is at your disposal.

Criminal Investigations,
Criminal, and Analytical bureaus.

Economic Crimes
and Traffic departments.

The subject is heading
for the hairdressing salon.

The subject is heading
towards the farm.

She entered the salon.

Good morning.

Hi.

The lock is seizing up.

Jerzy, where have you been?

- Hi.
- Where have you been?

Did you come alone?

What did you expect?

Sit down, eat something.

What are you so worried about?

I've been to the capital.
Give me a break.

They came here for you.

It was in your letter.

I was hiding,
but I no longer have to.

The most wanted man in Poland
is the safest man in Poland.

Listen, I am your father.

I am responsible for your safety.

Eat up.

They'll leave me alone now.

I already testified
at the Prosecution.

They will all go to prison soon.

I'll make sure of that.

I even have a lawyer.

I went into hiding
for a few weeks.

Finally, someone told me
to go to St. Martin's Church.

I met Barbara Sadowska there.

She said I was right to desert,
and Solidarity would help me.

Solidarity, meaning who?

She told me to go on Smolna Street,
to a legal office.

To barrister Bednarkiewicz.

- And you went there?
- Well, yes.

And?

Bednarkiewicz said he'd find me a flat
and give me some money.

Did he?

Well, yes.

Looks familiar?

Where's the recording clerk?

This is just an informal meeting.

I told him I had friends
at the station on Jezuicka.

He said that
he would like to question them.

Question them, barrister?
Are you the court?

Do you have an arrest warrant?

Don't play inaccessible.

Informal meeting, remember?

I'm not playing,
I am inaccessible.

Even from
the opportunistic point of view,

you as a barrister shouldn't be
interested in Przemyk's case.

You don't need it.

Barristers win cases.
You don't think you can win?

- We'll see.
- Right.

Forgive me,
but this operation seems pointless.

If you lock me up,
someone else will take over.

- Are you sure?
- Will you lock up everyone?

Without you
Barbara won't make a move.

If you tell her
that the trial is senseless,

she'll back out.

Out of what?

You're starting to catch on.

The two of you harry the Prosecution.

And you're their guardians?

We try to work closely.

Tell me...

if the case is dismissed,
you'll make a fuss about it

and call the CIA for help?

Can't we make a deal?
And let life go on?

You'll have masses in the streets.

You overestimate yourself, barrister.

They doubled the number of fillers.
Their uniforms are identical.

No talking to the witness.

Examine each face carefully.
Take your time.

Investigation signature:
I Ds 113/83.

Time of identity parade start:
11 :30 AM,

June 1, 1983.

Proceed.

Number 23.

Was he in contact with the victim?

He only came out of the guardroom

and shouted to beat him in such a way,
as not to leave marks.

Him.

He's the one who arrested us
at the Square,

and then raised
his baton on Grzegorz and ...

then beat him at the station.

Are you sure?

I can't hear you.

Yes.

- It was okay.
- Yes.

We'll see if it helps.

Bye. Take care.

Preliminary findings are such that
the battery took place at the station.

And, for now, battery in the ambulance
or the ER was ruled out.

Classification?

For now, art. 158.

Section one?

- Three.
- Three?

I don't understand.

Battery resulting in death.
A year to ten.

Don't count on ten.

So...

that will be the charge?

The indictment has to be approved
by the General Prosecutor's Office.

But such will be
my recommendation.

Is everything okay?

Fine.

Comrade Public Prosecutor General
Franciszek Rusek.

I was sure the meeting
was called for 2 PM.

You were called for 2 PM.

Sit.

Since the prosecutor general
has joined us now...

Yesterday, my department
received a memo for consultation,

which indicates that

the prosecutor's office
intends to indict Militia officers only,

and that would be
for battery resulting in death.

This is outrageous, comrade.

But why?

That would be considering
just one version of events.

It lacks objectivity.
Where's the ER version?

Firstly, the investigation
isn't over yet.

Secondly,
findings of the district prosecution

indicate that battery was possible
only at the Militia station.

Findings or Jerzy Popiel's testimony?

Mainly Popiel's testimony.

Supported by a dozen or so
expert opinions.

You intend to charge these boys
based on the testimony of a bum?

A criminal, to be honest?

As comrade minister surely knows,

all Jerzy Popiel was sentenced for,
were escapes from juvenile hall.

So, he was a criminal even as a snot.
Wonderful witness.

Jerzy P. may be shady,
but his testimony is solid.

He confirmed it numerous times.

His morality
has nothing to do with this.

I sincerely doubt it that

he will have the nerve
to repeat this rubbish in court.

As the Chief Commandant
of the Militia,

I'd expect the indictment to address
the emergency service version.

Prosecution's work
is not based on expectations.

Only facts.

The entire Politburo demands

for the matter to be fully investigated
by the Prosecutor's Office.

So does comrade Jaruzelski.

The district prosecution is leaky.

Details get through
to the underground press.

Prosecutor Brzozowska
regularly meets with Bednarkiewicz,

Barbara Sadowska's barrister,

and reveals investigation details.

It's her obligation.
Under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Which doesn't mean that Sadowska
receives files from proceedings.

It seems to us that...

the complexity of this case qualifies it
for transfer to the provincial office.

There's Wiesława Bardon there,
investigation department director.

Under article 17.2
of the Code of Criminal Procedure,

such a transfer to a higher instance
is fully justified.

Comrade minister
and comrade commandant

would fully appreciate
the fairness of the investigation.

Secretary Milewski
supervises the Prosecution,

so, in fact,
nothing would change.

The general prosecutor will see you.

Good day, comrade.

We were supposed to
only talk about what happened.

Yes, but it's best to show.

There's the ambulance,
so skip the fairy tales.

What fairy tales?

We didn't do anything.

I know that.

But we still have to prove it.

I don't know.

We should call a lawyer.

Yeah, right.

Only those who are guilty
need lawyers.

And you guys didn't do anything.

Show me how you transported him.

Photographer!

Okay.

So, show me how you would beat him.

I would never hit a man,
much less anyone in pain.

Just hypothetically.

How, with my hands on the wheel?
We'd crash and die.

You could have stopped on the way.

It was a six-minute drive,
when could we have stopped?

I can make a note
that you didn't want to help.

That won't look good.

So? Time for a beating.

Photographer.

Start the beating.

Harder, with passion!

With all you've got!

Remove the headrests.

We never take them out.

What's the problem?
Let's just take them out. There.

- This one doesn't come out.
- It doesn't come out!

This one's out. Go again.

Harder!

Get him in the back.

- What?
- The guy.

Right.
Orderly, in the back!

I never ride in the back!

Don't try to lecture me.

Okay. Hit him!

Hit him hard!

Skip the warm-up.
Hit him hard, with both hands.

Pound him!

Come on, with passion!

- Hit him, not the roof!
- I am!

Well, the roof!

In '66-'68, Wrocław HQ
led the "Prints" operational case.

Are you shitting me?

It pertained to craftsman
certificates and diplomas forgeries.

The forgers were convicted.
Here are case files.

This.

Grażyna Popiel's craftsman diploma.
Issued in Wrocław in 1966.

Someone here has a brain.
I'll take this.

Not like that.

Yes, use the big ones.

If you make just tiny curls,
she will look like a sheep.

No offence.

- Grażyna Popiel?
- Who's asking?

Provincial Militia HQ.
Commercial Inspectorate.

We've been notified

that you are using
a forged craftsman diploma, my girl.

I'm not your girl.

Grażyna...

Your diploma comes from the period
of operation of a forger gang.

- Many people bought their papers.
- So what?

Check with the Chamber of Crafts.
The proper documentation is there.

Well, they can't find it.

But they are looking.

Hello, Małgorzata, Jerzy Popiel.
Do you know if...

When?

The subject has left the flat.

There is no one inside.
You can proceed.

- Where did you get this?
- Popiel's flat.

An affair with her son's friend.

Better than nothing.

- Is this still going on?
- We'll check that.

Probably not.

Sadowska was involved with him
before he became friends with Przemyk.

- Do his parents know?
- Taps are inconclusive.

I'd like to use this.
Press, Television Daily News...

No. Hold it.

Too early for that.

Yes, sir.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.

- You promised.
- Not hungry.

Force yourself to eat.

It's not as simple as that.

I'll cook for you.
I'll move in, and I'll feed you.

Kiszczak would love that.

They've been hanging around here.

Militia and secret police.

They've probably bugged your flat.

Are they tailing you?

For later.

The Security Service nabbed mother.
Said her diploma was forged.

They want to close her salon.

The Prosecution summoned me for today.
I'll go with Bednarkiewicz.

You know what they told her?

That I should withdraw my testimony.

I'm here for Bednarkiewicz.
We're going to the prosecutor's office.

He's not here.
He's been detained.

Come with us.

Leave the cuffs on.

- I'll cuff him at the front.
- No, thank you.

Jerzy... Popiel.

You got it all wrong, dumb broad.

I'm a witness, not a suspect.

And I'm the prosecutor,

and my duty is to investigate
all possible event scenarios.

I refuse to testify.

You're a witness, not a suspect.
You don't have that option.

Besides, I can fuck you up easily.
Thank you.

Let's begin.

I spent the night in the slammer.

Who went through my stuff?

- What stuff?
- I had some letters here.

I haven't seen them.
But an interesting one came today.

Not for you for once.

So what happened to them?

What makes them so important?

Stop making a psycho out of me!

I've had enough of you.
Ta" to your father.

What's this?

They held a search yesterday.

They found illegal rabbits
in the other shed.

- Illegal, get it?
- Not my fault.

Then whose fucking fault is it?

I'm sorry.

What good will
your fucking apologies do?

One and a half million
in back taxes!

What do you intend to eat

once they take away
your mother's salon and my farm?

Sadowska's goddamn poems?

I'm doing this for Grzegorz, not her.

That's a good one!

She manipulates you,
and you're too stupid to see it!

She's got you figured out!
And you do whatever she says.

I'm doing this for Grzegorz!
No one will help him now!

Fucking Commies wrote in the papers
that he tripped over his laces!

Fucking Commies?

Like me?

Answer.

Just like me?

Just like fucking me?

You are my father.

Damn right, I'm your father.

So decide who is
more important to you,

your family

or some hag in Warsaw.

Think hard about that.

Yeah. It's going great.

Lieutenant,
do you have any small children?

I don't.

A mother with dementia?

- A wife in a wheelchair?
- I'm all alone.

Then go to Siedlce.

You put a crack in this family.

- Time to finish the job.
- Yes, sir.

I'll take care of you.
I'll help with everything.

We are bound forever now.
You and me.

I started writing again.
I'll read you something.

Just a second.

"I have butterfingers

My hands can't hold
The first tiny cherries

Of this year

I think I won't get them to you

My sonny boy."

Nice.

Maybe I'll publish something in spring.

I know it's difficult for you.

Everything rests on your shoulders.

You don't have to stay here.

You can run away from it.

Right after the trial.

Run away where?

Rusek says it's a courtesy.

A compromise, so to speak.

A compromise?

The officers have the same charges
as the orderlies.

Innocent orderlies
are being charged,

so it's a compromise,
as Rusek claims.

Call him.

I have, he refused to come.

He'll accept comments in writing.

He also asked to convey

that the file
was sent out of courtesy,

and only minor changes
are acceptable.

The indictment will be sent to court
as it is now.

Tell me something.

Why did we change the prosecutor?

The orderlies were indicted.
That's a plus.

Before, there was no chance for that.

Maybe we...

replaced the wrong prosecutor!

What about the orderlies?

Maybe one of them
should simply confess?

Yes, sir.

These are assignment cards
of the 02 team.

This year's. 180 people.

We just need one to accuse
Wysocki and the other one

of battery, theft, anything.

Enough to justify detainment.
Pass this around.

We have to find dirt
on those orderlies.

Tadeusz?

Zbyszek?

- You're in Siedlce?
- I buy crystal for my store.

There's my car.

Here?
Why didn't you look me up earlier?

I didn't want to impose.
We served together years ago.

When are you leaving?

In a minute. I want to
get to Wrocław before nightfall.

No way, you're staying with us.

We'll have a drink and talk.

I don't know.

She's playing him,

and Solidarity is playing her.

Thank you.

They just want to use Jerzy
against the Militia.

They totally
fucking possessed him.

Why is he set on this,
goddamn punk?

Ten men at the station,
lots of witnesses!

- How could they beat him there?
- Right.

This doesn't make sense.

They'll ruin our boy.

Use him and spit him out.

He's young and stupid.
Just doesn't see it.

I don't get you.

If it were my son...

But it's not.

Easier said.

What if you talked to them?

- To whom?
- The Security Service.

To denounce my own son?
Zbyszek!

Not denounce.

You won't say anything about Jerzy.

You want to defend your son
from Solidarity,

and they can help you.

You'll play them,
they won't play you.

I can't just let you in.
Write a letter of request.

I have crucial information
on Grzegorz Przemyk's case.

You can call their front office.
Maybe they'll let you in.

I'm an officer
of the Polish People's Army!

Good day.

Lieutenant Sajewicz.
I'm working on Przemyk's case.

Let's not stand around here
like some janitors.

Come on.

- Why are you in Siedlce?
- Excuse me?

You mentioned Przemyk's case,
so how come you're here?

Your son could be in danger.
From Solidarity.

So we've been told.

Step inside.

Take a seat.

Something to wet your whistle?

No, thank you, I'm driving.

I'm not here to denounce my son,

only to get something done.

That's clear.
I have two boys myself, I get it.

I'd even see the devil to help them.

Good morning, Mr Wysocki.

You're being detained.

You saw that
we haven't done anything.

- Come in.
- Good evening.

Good evening.

Thank you for letting me
spend the night here.

Our group participates in the trials
of various activists of the opposition.

This one is taking place in your city.

It means a lot to them

that someone is there at their trial.
That they are not alone.

We stay out of politics.

This isn't politics,
just regular thuggery.

The charges infringe
their own Constitution.

I know that you are
bearing the consequences

of Jerzy standing up
in defence of my son's memory...

Yes, we are.

- I'm happy you see that.
- Mum...

What?

On my part, I will try to help...

We don't need anyone's help.
Thank you.

After the trial, they'll leave us alone.

All this will end soon.

Maybe...

something should have been done
so it wouldn't even start.

What are you saying?

Maybe if the boy
had a better upbringing,

hadn't run around drunk,
accosting militiamen...

That's crap!
No one accosted anyone!

Watch your tongue.

Maybe...

there was no father's hand.

It's easy to neglect a kid,

and then cry over a tragedy.

Barbara, here's a towel for you.

Michał, I talked to your wife.

She's very worried, you know?

- I don't, I don't see her.
- That could change.

She said they keep
asking her about you guys.

I talked with the people here.

I have to say... it's not good.

They won't bug off.

This could end badly.
You have to help me,

or my hands are tied.

They could hurt your wife's career.

Dismiss your in-laws
from their diplomatic post in Rome.

Even arrest your brother.

They also said...

They said

you might have to
scrape your little boy off the road.

Oh my God!

Little Piotr, right?

You're on a hunger strike?

- Shall I get sugar?
- No need. He's on a hunger strike.

Think it over.

I'm here to help.

Your colleague
doesn't have such options.

But he didn't do it, right?

Give him a moment.

- You asked us to protect Jerzy.
- Right.

I had it arranged.

Great.

Now, I have a proposal.

You can say no,
but this is the moment

to convince Jerzy
to change his testimony.

I'll talk to him.

The point is that you don't.
Someone else will.

Someone who will seem impartial to him,
and therefore trustworthy.

Someone like
second lieutenant Łyko.

You planted the son of a bitch?

I came to you openly
and you treat me like an idiot?

Take it easy.

He had to establish contact.
You prefer if he knocked on your door?

Sit down.

I'm not finished.

Put Łyko in touch with Jerzy.

Not too aggressively.
It has to look natural.

If you need money for anything,
don't hesitate to ask.

I can manage if you only
stop meddling with our lives.

The investigation
concerning your wife was closed.

You should get the decision shortly.

Just a misunderstanding.

And don't worry about the taxes.
I'll fix that.

Okay.

Guard!

Guard!

Well, Mr Wysocki?

Thank you, Madam Prosecutor,
for finding the time for me.

Hard to tell how many times before.

You see,

it's been eating at my conscience
for a long time now...

Yes?

I've done a terrible thing.

Now, I've decided to remove
that burden off of me and my family.

It was...

my fault that...

that boy...

It was me...

Maybe let's take a break
to let him calm down.

- He's clearly very shaken.
- Yes, very.

Let's go.

This is my son Jerzy.

Jerzy!

Meet Zbyszek.

My friend from army times.

Mum is out,
but supper's on the table.

Join us.

Good evening.

- Call me Zbyszek.
- Jerzy.

I hear you're a hero.

I'm just saying how it went down.

How did it go down?

Leave the boy alone.
He's had enough already.

I'm just curious.

Forgive me, friend.
I won't force you.

There's not much to say.

They beat him to death
in front of me.

But did you really see it?

It happened
five metres away from me.

He fell to the floor,
they picked him up, and continued.

Why didn't you help him?

I tried to, but...

they kept me away from him.

One guy pinned me to a chair.

Horrible.

How many were there in total?

Six guys.

Seven!

You got one guy in trouble.

How's that, sir?

You didn't see
who did the beating.

You didn't see
who struck the fatal blow.

There were six of them,
maybe seven.

- What if that guy didn't touch him?
- They all beat him.

You weren't fucking there.

Maybe they got him at the ER?
Who knows?

You weren't there, right?

I didn't mean to upset you.

Just don't hurt anyone
with your testimony.

Or even worse, don't make yourself
look like an idiot in court.

The trial begins soon, right?

Yes, that's right.

I gotta hit the can.

I'm sorry about him.
He's needlessly pushy.

- It's okay.
- No, it's not.

I'll ask him to leave.
That was uncalled for.

You have enough problems.

Remember, no matter what,

you can always
come to me and talk.

Remember, always.

Thanks, dad.

Thanks.

Remember what we discussed?

You know the script?

We wrote it together, remember?

Don't mess it up this time.

Show it to him again.

How did you step on him?

How was it?

Which foot?

Remember?

There, finally. Good.

Ready?

- Płatek?
- What now?

How am I to take the blame

when there are witnesses
who won't confirm it?

Don't worry ahead.
Haven't had enough stress?

Our people
will handle the witnesses.

We have a big team
of professionals.

Come on.

Can we continue?

So...

It was my fault that

that boy died in May.

Grzegorz Przemyk.

He was trashing around when we
led him into the elevator at the ER.

And...

he fell on his left side,

and I stepped on his stomach
with my right foot.

Right foot on his stomach.

On his stomach.

I am guilty of
Grzegorz Przemyk's death.

Łyko said you've done well.

Jerzy is beginning to crack.

He's finally starting to trust me.

For the first time ever.

Whatever I say,
he takes at face value.

That's good.

Good for you.

Get "Trybuna Ludu" tomorrow.

Front page. Show it to Jerzy.

ORDERLY ADMITS TO PRZEMYK BATTERY

Those orderlies didn't touch him.

You weren't there with them.

They didn't let you in the ambulance.
Now you know why.

I saw it with my own eyes
how the Militia beat him!

He howled like a beast!

They're killing the case.
These are lies!

The man confessed!

Fuck that confession!
He stepped on his stomach?

Guard!

Breathe!

Come on. Guard!

You surely realise

that Wysocki
didn't do anything to Przemyk.

He claims otherwise.

Even if we accept his admission
was spontaneous and not coerced,

it is impossible for
the injuries to have resulted from

an accidental stepping on the abdomen.

- The abdomen!
- Nine experts support that claim.

Two stated otherwise.

Finding them
must have been a challenge.

Are you insinuating something?

- How many times did you question him?
- Can't recall.

Three times.

First,

he claimed it was the other orderly
who kicked Przemyk repeatedly.

Later, that he himself
kicked him in the lift.

The problem was
the lift operator, one Zychowicz,

who denied it
in five subsequent interrogations.

It seems, that cost him his job.

Then, Wysocki got a third idea,

and claimed he stepped on Przemyk
by accident,

when leading him
from the ambulance to the lift.

Didn't you find that suspicious?

I figured these changes reflected
the progress in the investigation.

Besides, the suspect
was interrogated daily by the Militia.

I saw no sense
in doubling interrogations.

You represent the Militia

or the Prosecution?

The court sided with me!

Courts can be wrong.
That's why there are appeals.

Appeal to the Supreme Court

against the decision
to supplement the investigation.

All this is,
is a waste of my time.

You don't know where you live.

Wysocki confessed.
What's the problem?

Which confession
is comrade general referring to?

Withdraw your complaint,
and we'll forget the whole affair.

Supplement the investigation.

Change the charges
against our boys to 158 section 1,

and we're done.

No one is denying the need
to respect the law.

But Przemyk's case has to be viewed
from a political perspective.

Whose interests do you represent?

Of the Party,
which made you general prosecutor,

or the Radio Free Europe
and Solidarity?

The Constitution

which you're not familiar with
or is are wilfully violating,

by treating the Prosecution
as your branch.

Well...

Comrade, you're being ridiculous
with your Constitution-waving.

The nine from Wujek,

Bogdan Włosik,

pacification in Lubin,
you dismissed all those cases.

And now you're preaching
about law and order?

You played this foolishly, comrades.

If not for your meddling,

a couple of hicks
would have gone to prison,

and nobody
would even remember Przemyk.

You created him yourselves.

Now deal with it.

Today, the State Council

recalled general prosecutor
Franciszek Rusek

and appointed Józef Żyta in his place.

The Supreme Court ruled that

the Provincial Court
was right to return the case file

linked with Przemyk's death
to the Prosecution.

The ruling states there is suspicion
that the indictment

exaggerates the blame
of the Militia officers,

while overlooking the orderlies.

This was the news.
And now, some music.

Hi, sonny.

What's wrong?

We're about to eat.

Who brought this?

The Internal Military Service.

For fuck's sake.

They gave me a deferment.

I'm not getting drafted.

It's not about the army.
Only the mental hospital.

The examining psychiatrist
will commit you.

No way.

They'll have to take me by force.

I'll fix this.
But you have to cooperate.

Just change your testimony.

A security service guy I know
can help.

What?

They just want you scared.

Change your testimony,
and they'll bug off.

What security service guy?

I met up once with one of them.
His name is Sajewicz.

I wanted to get them
to leave us the fuck alone.

Once.

And it worked.
They left us alone.

What did you tell them?

I'm not stupid.
I have him figured out.

Did you snitch on your son?

- Did you snitch on your son?
- I didn't tell him anything.

He talked, I listened.
It was just so they'd leave you alone.

Did you talk about Barbara?

I did it for you,
to keep you safe!

Did you fucking talk about her?

Fuck her!
I was handling our business.

Stay the fuck away from me.

Did you know about this?
We're living with a damn traitor!

Jerzy, calm down.

- You snitch on your son?
- You're hysterical like some broad.

I'm never coming back
to this house of traitors!

Don't talk to him like that.

You didn't keep your word.
We had a deal.

If you can't handle your son,

maybe Barbara can help us.

But for old times' sake,
I think you should see this.

What is it?

Sadowska's letters to your son.

Where did you get them?

Our agents sourced them.

You can't stay here.

What's the story with his draft?

We might be able to get a deferment.

At least until he testifies.

Later, they should let it go.

Eat up.

We have a long way to go.

We'll drive in circles
and try to lose them.

You'll be safe with Gładysz.

Take care.

We're almost there.

Jerzy isn't here.

That's not why I came.

I'll keep it short.

Tell him to change his testimony.

That won't be possible.

You bamboozled him to testify,
you can manage this as well.

Jerzy is an adult.
He can't be bamboozled.

He does what he wants.

Maybe it's hard for you to understand.

You'll go to him,

or you'll pass a kite
through your dossers,

and you'll tell him that this
stupid operation is called off.

Dear sir,

I tried to treat you with respect
because you are Jerzy's father.

But you are not worthy of respect.

You are simply a weak, stupid man.

Only such a man would report his son
to the Security Service.

I don't want you in my home.

Do it, or I'll bring you down.

I'll reveal everything.

How for seven years
you demoralised my son, a teenager.

Jerzy was of full legal age when we met.
It's not your business.

I know that Jerzy
wasn't the only one.

Maybe I should call
a few other fathers?

What will people say
once they read about it?

That the child went hungry

because mummy was busy with uncles.
Prostitutes have more honour.

Get out of my house.

This is your last chance
to save yourself.

Have him call off his testimony,

and you can live peacefully
in this whorehouse of yours.

The choice is yours.

I'll go to the bishop.

We'll see if Popiełuszko
continues to be such a great friend

once he finds out.

Before we begin,
Mrs Sadowska has a formal request.

Approach.

Mrs Barbara Sadowska declares

that she decided to withdraw from
the trial as a subsidiary prosecutor.

This whole year!

They rode me for a year.

A year.

My father sold me out
to the Secret Service.

- This was a game to you?
- You know it wasn't.

I fucking don't!

I don't.

"Jerzy, the truth is paramount.

Besides you,
Grzegorz has no one!

The trial hangs on you!"

Now, you just woke up in the morning
and changed your mind?

They will do whatever they want.

Since when, for fuck's sake,
is this an argument?

I'm asking you.

Should I say
I didn't see anything?

Jerzy...

It's your decision, not mine.

You're an adult.

I'm all worn out. Completely.

I would really just want to die

and be done with all this.

And Grzegorz?

This was all for him.

When I die, I'll be with him again.

I pray for that every day.

The next witness
will be called in momentarily.

Aware of the significance of my words

and my responsibility before the law...

Aware of the significance of my words
and my responsibility before the law...

I solemnly swear to tell the full truth.

I solemnly swear to tell the truth.

The full truth.

I solemnly swear to tell the full truth.

I solemnly swear to tell the full truth.

And not hide anything
of what is known to me.

And not hide anything
of what is known to me.

- The witness is yours.
- Thank you.

You testified that

on May 12 you consumed alcohol
in Barbara Sadowska's flat.

Wine.

How much wine did you have?

Not much.
Maybe two glasses.

Wineglasses or regular glasses?

Wineglasses.

You drank from wineglasses?

No, from regular glasses,
only small ones.

From vodka glasses?

If you want to convert this into glasses,
I had one glass.

You could be facing prosecution
for not telling the truth.

This is the full truth.

Private Kościuk testified that
during your detainment you were drunk.

No, we were sober.

Then what was the reason for Przemyk's
excitement and loss of balance?

We were happy that Grzegorz
did well on his graduation exam.

Out of happiness,

Grzegorz Przemyk attacked
a Militia officer at the station?

He didn't attack anybody.

An officer jumped at him.
He defended himself.

Defended himself
giving out karate shouts?

Nothing of the sort happened.

What were the shouts like?

Loud screams of pain.

Continuous or intermittent?
In what key?

I don't understand.

Was it "aaaa"

or more "eeee"?

More like "e".

How many officers were there
in the station that day?

I don't know.

You don't know that,

but you're sure that Przemyk
didn't attack anyone?

Yes.

How many officers
transported you to the station?

I don't remember.

You don't remember
something so obvious?

I was upset.

At the station,
you weren't upset any more,

since you claim you very well know
who allegedly battered Przemyk.

I was upset,
but I know what I saw.

So how many officers
participated in the alleged beating?

At least three.

Can't you even give a specific number?

It happened very fast.

So fast that you say that
three participated in the beating,

during the identity parade
you recognised two,

but only one of the beaters?

I was shown 60 officers.

All were nearly identical.

Are you suggesting obstruction
during the parade?

I'm just saying that...

not just the two I recognised
were the beaters.

During the investigation
you testified

that one of the officers said

to beat in such a way
as to leave no marks.

At the same time, you said

that another officer held you down
and your view was obscured.

From the other side.

The officer who said that
was by the guardroom.

So you were looking behind you,
not at the alleged beating?

I looked behind me
when I heard about not leaving marks.

You didn't see the moment
when these words were spoken?

Right when I heard those words

I turned my head
and only Sergeant Denkiewicz was there.

So, you didn't see his lips moving?

No. But no one else
could have said those words.

In the same way you deduced

that Private Kościuk did the beating,
but you couldn't see anything!

I saw it!

I did.

I'm not sure if he elbowed him,
held him, or punched him,

but I saw his moves.

From the distance of five metres?

At first, when they beat Grzegorz
less aggressively, they were closer.

Later, they threw him
around the corridor.

Out of those few beating officers,

you happened to remember
Private Kościuk?

Quite a selective memory you have.

He nabbed us at the Square, that's why.

And that is the word of one person
against the word of another!

Not one, but two.

At night, when Grzegorz woke up,

he said that the guy from the Square
beat him the hardest.

Why would he lie?

If you are so sure that
Grzegorz Przemyk was attacked,

why did you contact a barrister
instead of the Prosecution?

Grzegorz Przemyk was beaten
by the guy in the brown sweater.

Why did you contact a barrister
instead of the Prosecution?

What were you hiding?

Przemyk was beaten
by the guy in the brown sweater.

The bald guy
said to leave no marks.

Why didn't you
contact the Prosecution?

Grzegorz was beaten
by the guy in the sweater.

The bald guy said
to leave no marks.

You're in contempt!
Answer the questions!

Grzegorz was beaten
by the guy in the brown sweater.

The bald guy said
to leave no marks.

Yes?

The verdict's in.
Orderlies, 2 and 2.5 years.

Our boys were acquitted.

People who have the brass,
equating the Militia with power...

MAY GOD JUDGE HIS MURDERERS

...decided to sacrifice truth
for immediate gain,

compromise
the judiciary system in Poland

with cynical manipulation,

which in a day to come
will be textbook examples of injustice.

I don't expect that day
to come quickly.

It will come at a time

when the systematic desecration
of my son Grzegorz's grave

will be nothing more

than a disgraceful symbol

of today's reality.

SADOWSKA DIED
OF LUNG CANCER IN 1986, AT 46,

THREE YEARS AFTER HER ONLY SON.

THEY ARE BOTH BURIED
AT THE WARSAW POWĄZKI CEMETERY.

THE PERPETRATORS AND THOSE
WHO COVERED UP THE CRIME

AVOIDED PUNISHMENT.

TRIALS CONCERNING THE MATTER

WERE REOPENED SEVERAL TIMES
AND SENTENCES WERE REVOKED.

IN 2010, PRZEMYK'S CASE HAD FALLEN
UNDER THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

DIRECTED BY

SCRIPT BASED ON REPORTAGE
BY CEZARY ŁAZAREWICZ

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