The film “Janosik. A true story”a joint work Agnieszka Holland and Katarzyna Adamikdebuted in cinemas in 2009 as an attempt to dispel the romantic legend of the famous highwayman. The production, which was supposed to show the true fate of Juraj Janosik, aroused controversy from the very beginning – both in the choice of cast and in the way the characters were presented. Václav Jiráček, the 175 cm tall star of the main role, had to face the legend of Marek Perepczka, and the film itself met with mixed reception.
The film by Agnieszka Holland and Katarzyna Adamik stood out from previous film adaptations because of its faithfulness to historical sources. Eva Borušovičová’s script was based on 18th-century documents, including court files from the trial of Juraj Janosik and his companion Tomáš Uhorczyk. The directors deliberately moved away from the romantic vision, creating a portrait of a young man entangled in the brutal reality of his era.
“The previous versions of Janosik were full of stylizations and folk conventions. We focused on authenticity and emotions. Our Janosik is tragic and at the same time contemporary. If he were alive today, he could be a boy from the city ghetto, returning from the war and finding his place in the gang,” she explained. Agnieszka Holland. The film offered subtle humor and youthful dilemmas, which gave it a lighter tone despite the serious topic.
Casting for the title role took place in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but the final choice fell on the young Czech actor Václav Jiráček. This decision aroused many emotions – Jiráček, with his boyish appearance and slim figure, clearly differed from the image of the powerful robber known from the 1970s series. Nevertheless, the directors were convinced of his talent and magnetic charisma.
“Vašek immediately stood out from other candidates. He had inner strength and independence that made him a multi-dimensional figure. We were not looking for a hero, but a man – an outsider who accidentally became a legend,” said Katarzyna Adamik. Comparisons of Jiráček to Leonardo DiCaprio emphasized his ability to subtly convey emotion.
The film, which was supposed to refresh the view of Janosik, was not met with enthusiasm by the audience. Viewers missed the old image of a strong boy, and the reinterpretation of the character was criticized for being too “Americanized”. Critics were also divided into camps – some appreciated the innovative approach and depth of the characters, others considered the production an unsuccessful attempt to break the mold.
“This is not the Janosik we know from Jerzy Passendorfer’s series. Here we will find neither a romantic vision nor typical folklore. It is more of a philosophical fairy tale about a man who was drawn into a vortex of events beyond his control,” wrote an Interia reviewer.
Holland and Adamik demystified the legend, showing Janosik as a character torn by doubts, with no supernatural features of a strongman. The film portrays him as an ordinary man who had to find his way in a cruel world. This new perspective – although difficult to accept by fans of traditional film adaptations – sheds light on the historical Janosik, who has long remained in the shadow of an idealized legend.
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