The filmmakers announced the milestone on October 9.
The adaptation of Bolesław Prus' 19th-century novel opened on September 30 and drew 622,000 viewers during its first five days, the strongest opening for a Polish film since the COVID-19 pandemic.
"A million viewers have now seen Lalka," the filmmakers wrote on social media. "For us, it shows that great works of literature and spectacular cinema remain a timeless combination."
Prus' novel, published in English as The Doll, is one of the central works of the Polish literary canon and remains widely taught in schools.
Set in late 19th-century Warsaw, it follows wealthy merchant Stanisław Wokulski and his attempt to enter aristocratic society as he pursues Izabela Łęcka.
Marcin Dorociński plays Wokulski, with Kamila Urzędowska as Łęcka. Marek Kondrat appears as Wokulski's friend Ignacy Rzecki, returning to the big screen after a 16-year hiatus.
The film cost close to PLN 65 million (around EUR 15 million) net, making it one of the most expensive Polish productions of recent years.
It was made without a grant from the Polish Film Institute (PISF), the state body that co-finances Polish cinema.
Producer Radosław Drabik has described the film's commercial performance as a test for the Polish cinema industry. He said the production was designed to appeal beyond regular moviegoers and to bring people back to theaters after long absences.
Drabik told the onet.pl news website that the filmmakers had received messages from people saying Lalka was the first Polish film they had seen in a cinema since the pandemic.
Some said they had not been to a movie theater for a decade.
"I wanted to get Poles out of their homes, above all those who hadn’t been to the cinema for five or even 10 years," Drabik said. "And it looks as though it worked."
Kawalski's film follows Netflix's six-part series adaptation of the novel, which was released on September 16 with a different cast.
(rt/gs)
Source: onet.pl