The Peasants is a hand-painted animation, a production technique that was previously applied by the same directorial team in their internationally acclaimed film Loving Vincent.
The story of The Peasants is based on Władysław Reymont’s Nobel Prize-winning novel of the same title, which was written in four volumes between 1904 and 1909 and translated into 27 languages.
The Peasants represents the essence of Polish national heritage from the late 19th century and early 20th century, the film’s producers BreakThru Films said.
The Peasants “tells the story of Jagna, a young woman determined to forge her own path within the confines of a late-19th-century Polish village – a hotbed of gossip and on-going feuds, held together, rich and poor, by pride in their land, adherence to colourful traditions and deep-rooted patriarchy,” according to Break Thru Films.
“When Jagna finds herself caught between the conflicting desires of the village’s richest farmer, his eldest son, and other leading men of the community, her resistance puts her on a tragic collision course with the community around her,” the producers added.
Last month, The Peasants premiered to a standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Hand-painted oil art produced for the purposes of the movie can be bought online at shop.thepeasantsmovie.com.
The BFI London Film Festival runs from October 4 to 15 at venues in London, around the UK and on BFI Player, the organisers said.
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Source: Break Thru Films, BFI London Film Festival