In December 2025, we mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Władysław Reymont, one of Poland’s greatest writers. His work has been adapted for the screen many times. Here, we focus on the novel for which Reymont received the Nobel Prize in Literature — “The Peasants”, a richly layered portrayal of Polish rural life at the time. We present two film adaptations side by side: “The Peasants” by Jan Rybkowski (1973) and “The Peasants” by DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman (2023). Both screenings will be preceded by introductory lectures.

The Peasants pt 2: Jagna, dir. Jan Rybkowski (Poland) 1973, 79’, 15+

A feature film version of the television series based on the epic about life in a Polish village at the end of the 19th century. The peasants from Lipce were released from prison and now return to their homes. Among them is Antek, who faces several years in jail for murder. Hanka takes charge of her father-in-law’s household, living under the same roof as her husband’s lover. Jagna wants to return to her mother’s home, but her mother firmly refuses to take her back.
The film in Polish.