Lesley Manville, renowned for her portrayal of Princess Margaret in “The Crown,” is set to take the lead in “Winter of the Crow,” currently in production in Warsaw, Poland. The film, adapted from a short story by Olga Tokarczuk, a Nobel Prize-winning author, is a Cold War thriller unfolding in the surreal and cinematic world of 1981 Warsaw.
In this gripping narrative, Dr. Joan Andrews, played by Manville, arrives as martial law descends overnight, transforming the city into a state of chaos where citizens are treated as criminals. In the midst of this upheaval, armed with her camera, Dr. Andrews witnesses a brutal murder perpetrated by the secret police. Trapped in the city as Poland is shuttered down, she becomes a hunted fugitive, running for her life.
Directed by Kasia Adamik, known for winning the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2017 for “Spoor,” “Winter of the Crow” explores a dreamlike universe where rules are unknown, and absurdity reigns in a borderland between reality and the phantasmagorical.
Produced by Olga Chajdas, Stanislaw Dziedzic, Katarzyna Ozga, Nicolas Steil, and Sam Taylor, with co-production by Douglas Cummins, the film boasts the expertise of Oscar nominee Agnieszka Holland as an executive producer alongside R. Paul Miller, James DeMasi, Jonny Boston, Archil Gelovani, and Ursula Romero Gerberding for ISB. Tomasz Naumiuk, recognized for his work on “Green Border,” serves as the director of photography.
Gabrielle Stewart, CEO of HanWay Films, commented on the project, stating, “As a Cold War spy thriller, ‘Winter of the Crow’ feels truly original in that the lead protagonist is an everyday woman who is challenged to step up and make a difference in a completely unique situation.” Anticipation is high, with Manville’s performance expected to be brilliant in this captivating film that promises to be a unique addition to the Cold War spy thriller genre.
