Jerzy Radziwiłowicz is an outstanding theater actor. He is remembered in the history of Polish cinematography thanks to the roles of Mateusz Birkut and Maciej Tomczyk in Andrzej Wajda’s films – “Man of Marble” and “Man of Iron”. Years ago, he played the role of superintendent Andrzej Gajewski in the cult “Glin” by Władysław Pasikowski. Now he’s reinventing that role and training a new generation of cops. “It is also a sign of the times that the partner of these tough guys in the police is a woman who is equally tough,” he says in an interview with Interia.
Katarzyna Ulman, Interia: The original “Glina” was recognized by Polish critics as one of the best and most important crime series. It is still watched today, and a new generation of fans is growing who remember the previous two series or start their adventure with this production on the occasion of the premiere of the new installment. What is behind the success of “Glina”?
Jerzy Radziwiłowicz: I think this is an exceptionally well-written series. This is the starting point – and this is where my contact with this series began. I read the entire script for the first season and immediately saw that it was very well done. So I took up this role without hesitation. Why is this script so good? Because he takes the work of homicide police officers very seriously. If he interferes with their private lives, it’s minimal – he doesn’t take over in this series. There is, of course, one thread, the daughters of Gajewski and Artur Banaś, but it weaves perfectly into the whole story. No one winks at the viewer or makes unnecessary jokes. The text is focused on what they do. It’s a serious story, which is a huge advantage of the series.
– The second thing is implementation issues. It was shot by a professional, Władysław Pasikowski, who also does not like to be distracted by other things than the main issues. “Glina” is also very well filmed, even though we recorded it twenty years ago; on other tapes in other places. This had its advantage. Everything contributed to this final effect, which surprised me. I was surprised that the series resonated so much with viewers. There were expectations that a sequel would be made. It surprised me, but I had no doubt that these two seasons were a good series.
What is it like to play the role of Superintendent Andrzej Gajewski again?
– This is not a return to the role, it is not the same role. This guy from 17 years ago is no longer there. I realized this when we started filming the show. Gajewski’s method or attempt to play from years ago is doomed to failure. Gajewski is what he is now.
“Cop. A New Chapter” takes the work of homicide detectives seriously, it does not delve into private lives or romances, but shows the impact of this work on the characters. How does serving as an assassin affect these characters?
– How they change, how they can become different people, was something that attracted viewers to the screens. The story of how this job can sometimes destroy a person. It was also written in the script that private life is not easy and often ends in failure. Gajewski’s marriage ended in disaster, and then it wasn’t easy with the second woman either. It’s not an easy life to pick up the pieces, these heroes pay a huge price for what they do. This is especially visible in the story of Artur Banaś in the first two seasons. You can see how he evolves, becomes a different person, when he enters this life he goes through subsequent stages of police work, which for a normal civilian are actually known only by hearsay. In this work, there is a moment when you have to kill a person for the first time, and we showed it all – how a new person is created, who then has a harder time finding his place in normal life.
I remember that in one of your interviews you mentioned that working on the set of the original “Cop” was a fulfillment of a boyhood dream.
– Since childhood, as boys, when we watch the adventures of some macho man, westerns, we always dream of being like that – a tough sheriff or a guy who administers justice. This is a boyhood dream that somehow came true thanks to a character in this series.
In the latest installment of “Glina”, Nela Maciejewska joins the cast as Tamara Rudnik. In a sense, Chief Commissioner Gajewski takes her under his wing.
– He believes in her. Their relationship is mutual – he trains her, but it is she who involved him in a new case. Tamara reported to Gajewski about the investigation she was conducting and gave the retiree a new impetus. In a sense, a new life has opened up for him – he can be useful for something, he can still do his job, even though it’s a bit on the side. This is very cool because two people met, I would say on two opposite ends. One shows a retiree who has already left the profession, and the other shows a girl who is entering the profession. They create partners who solve a crime and I really liked that. It is also a sign of the times that the partner of these tough guys in the police is a woman who is equally tough. Nela Maciejewska, a great girl, I’m very happy that we met and could work.
There are also more and more similarities between Gajewski and Banaś.
– The similarities are already written in a piece of the series years ago, when Artur Banaś tells Gajewski that what terrifies him is that when he looks in the mirror, he seems to be more and more like him. Maciek Stuhr manages it all very nicely, shapes Banaś in work that requires a specific way of being and approach.
See also: The Polish crime series was groundbreaking. After 20 years, it is considered a classic