Halka lives with her godmother in a modest cottage in a small highland village. One day, young Janusz arrives in the village to take possession of his ancestral estate. Halka falls madly in love with Janusz, who promises her eternal love and marriage. Soon, Janusz's mother arrives at the estate to inform him that they are ruined. The only salvation is to marry the daughter of a wealthy steward. Janusz leaves with his mother, promising Halka that he will return. Halka, who is pregnant, eagerly awaits the return of her beloved. The whole village turns its back on her, and she is supported only by Jontek, whose feelings she once rejected. Unable to wait for Janusz's return, she decides to go to the city, accompanied by her faithful Jontek. There she learns of Janusz's engagement to the steward's daughter, Zofia. Heartbroken, she returns to the village. There, she suffers another blow...
Acting
Liliana Zielińska's silent suffering — devastating without a single word.
Direction
Gardan channels Stanisław Moniuszko's opera into pure cinematic heartbreak.
Director
Juliusz Gardan
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Stanisław Moniuszko's 1848 opera — the 'Polish national opera' — this 1937 adaptation arrived as Poland faced rising fascist threat, lending Halka's tragedy unintended historical weight.
Witold Zacharewicz, devastatingly handsome as Janusz, would be murdered by Soviets in 1943 during WWII — making his screen betrayal of Halka feel almost prophetically tragic.
PL
