"This is the story of a great poet who, while close to death, was closer than ever to life," said Joanna Kocyła, the film's creative producer A new film about the life and work of one of Poland's most celebrated 20th-century poets, Halina Poświatowska, is in the works, with her family involved in the production for the first time. Polish film studio Lightcraft announced the biopic of Poświatowska in mid-October, although details about the cast, director and release date have yet to be revealed. The upcoming production will be the second film devoted to the poet’s life. The first, Tętno (Pulse), was released in 1985 and was made without the involvement of the writer's family. A heart full of poetry Poświatowska, who died in 1967 at the age of 32, is regarded as one of Poland's most important modern poets. Her literary legacy includes four poetry collections and the autobiographical novel Opowieść dla przyjaciela (A Story for a Friend). However, her life was marked by a serious heart condition that developed following an untreated illness. During one of her frequent stays at a sanatorium, she met painter Adolf Poświatowski, and the pair later married. Poświatowski died two years later, leaving his wife a widow at just 21. As Poświatowska’s health deteriorated, she travelled to the US for further treatment and also continued her studies at the prestigious Smith College. Despite receiving a scholarship to pursue doctoral studies at Stanford University, Poświatowska chose to return to Poland. After settling at the Writers' House in the southern Polish city of Krakow, she continued writing until her death from complications following another heart operation. "This is the story of a great poet who, while close to death, was closer than ever to life," said Joanna Kocyła, the film's creative producer. "Halina had every reason to turn her back on the world, but instead she made the world fall in love with her," Kocyła added. Who'll be next Poświatowska? The lead role in the 1985 film was played by Polish actress Ewa Jendrzejewska. The announcement of the new film has sparked speculation about who might portray Poświatowska on screen. Actresses Maria Dębska and Sandra Drzymalska, who starred in Netflix’s series The Doll, along with Polish singer Zuzanna Grabowska, known professionally as sanah, have emerged as fan favorites.
The upcoming production will be the second film devoted to Poświatowska's life. (Public domain, Wikimedia Commons)
