THE DOLL
LALKA
THE DOLL
drama I 2026 I Poland
Original Title: LALKA
Duration: 164 min
Language: Polish with English subtitles
Director: Maciej Kawalski
Cast: Marcin Dorociński, Kamila Urzędowska,
Marek Kondrat, Agata Kulesza, Maria Dębska,
Andrzej Seweryn, Maja Komorowska,
Krystyna Janda, Maja Ostaszewska, Maciej Stuhr,
Karolina Gruszka, Mateusz Damięcki, Borys Szyc, Cezary Żak, Filip Pławiak, Dawid Ogrodnik,
Andrzej Chyra, Jan Englert
Celebrate the opening of the 2026 Polish Film Festival with a complimentary glass of wine on arrival and Polish delicacies served by Polish Jar followed by the film.
6:00pm – Reception 🎬 6:30pm – Official Opening & Film Screening
A spectacular new adaptation of one of Poland’s greatest literary masterpieces, The Doll brings Bolesław Prus’s sweeping story of love, ambition, money and social class to the big screen with an extraordinary cast. Led by Marcin Dorociński (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning) and Kamila Urzędowska (The Peasants), alongside the long-awaited return of Marek Kondrat and an extraordinary ensemble of Poland’s leading actors, including Agata Kulesza (Cold War, Ida), Andrzej Seweryn (Schindler's List, Total Eclipse) and many more, this ambitious new film is one of the most anticipated Polish premieres of the year.
Warsaw at the end of the 19th century. Wealthy merchant Stanisław Wokulski is determined to win the hand of Izabela Łęcka, a beautiful young aristocrat whose family is facing financial ruin. Having made his fortune during the war, he returns to Poland and sets out to enter high society in order to get closer to the woman he loves. As he enters her world of privilege, ambition and social intrigue, Wokulski discovers that wealth cannot easily overcome the barriers of class — and that love can be as consuming as it is elusive.
At his side is his loyal friend Ignacy Rzecki, an idealist and romantic who watches with growing nostalgia as the world he believes in gives way to social ambition and ruthless competition. As Wokulski becomes entangled in aristocratic salons, rivalries and intrigues, Rzecki looks on with concern as his friend becomes increasingly consumed by his feelings for Izabela.
An epic love story and a portrait of a society undergoing profound change, The Doll explores the tension between dreams and reality, ambition and belonging. Set against the richly recreated world of 19th-century Warsaw, the film brings Prus’s timeless story to life with sweeping ambition, vivid period detail and a compelling portrait of a man caught between his desires and the world he cannot change.
"Visually, dramatically and technically impressive. A cinematic finesse worthy of Prus." — Interia
"A major cinematic event." — Movies Room
"A film that impresses with both scale and intimacy" — Plejada
"The production directed by Kawalski lives up to expectations. It may not capture the spirit of the book perfectly, but it does so remarkably well. — On Screen
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS & AWARDS
NEW RELEASE — festival accolades are still emerging.
THEATRICAL RELEASE 30 September 2026
MACIEJ KAWALSKI
Polish director and screenwriter. A graduate of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School and, originally, a medical doctor, Kawalski began his career making short films, including The Last Waltz, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. His acclaimed short Atlas went on to win numerous awards at international festivals, including the Grand Prix at the Bermuda International Film Festival and awards at the Krakow Film Festival, Huesca International Film Festival and DC Shorts International Film Festival. His feature debut, Dangerous Men (2022), a period crime comedy set in 1914, premiered to critical attention and won Audience Award the Warsaw Film Festival.
 |  THE DOLL |  THE DOLL |
|---|---|---|
 THE DOLL |  THE DOLL |  THE DOLL |