Watch the trailer of Kajtek the Wizard , a film full of magic and humor based on the novel by Janusz Korczak, an educator and teacher whose timeless work has raised several generations of Polish children.
I guess every child wants to have magical powers. What if this dream comes true? Kajtek (Eryk Biedunkiewicz), a teenage boy with an exceptionally rebellious temperament, grows up with his father (Grzegorz Damięcki) and grandmother (Maja Komorowska). The class prankster one day discovers supernatural abilities. An unusual talent combined with the boy’s unruly character mean big problems not only for the school, but also for the entire city. Magical powers take control over Kajtek’s life, and from now on he deals with both the disliked teachers and the entire school community, gaining sympathy and fame among his peers. The situation begins to get complicated when the forces of good and evil begin to compete for the boy with magical abilities. Which way will the young wizard go?
“Kajtek the Wizard” is an extremely universal story that is suitable for both young and old. It stands out from the background of contemporary youth cinema primarily by showing timeless values such as brotherhood, honesty and truth. Viewers will see what is worth investing in today’s world and what to invest their time and energy in.
Grzegorz Damięcki, actor
Kajtek Czarodziej is a story about the magical world of children’s imagination, growing up and improving the world in a light way, which reflects the most important treasures of Janusz Korczak’s philosophy: every child should be loved, respected for their boundaries and allowed to dream!
At this year’s Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia, the latest film directed by Magdalena Łazarkiewicz will compete for the award. Janusz Korczak – Kajtek Czarodziej is nominated for the Golden Lions, a statuette awarded by the youngest viewers. The film will be shown on September 18 as part of the festival’s “Gdynia for Children” section.
The title role is played by Eryk Biedunkiewicz (debuting in the BBC series “World on Fire”), and he is accompanied by both debutants and stars of the Polish film: Maja Komorowska, Karolina Gruszka, Anna Dzieduszycka, Grzegorz Damięcki and Piotr Głowacki. Responsible for creating a world full of magic include: director of photography Rafał Paradowski, costume designer Dorota Roqueplo, make-up artist Alina Janerka, and music authors Mary Komasa and Antoni Komasa-Łazarkiewicz. The photos were taken in beautiful regions of Lower Silesia, both in Wrocław, Kłodzko, Wałbrzych and Szczawno Zdrój.
The film is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, the City of Wrocław, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Czech Film Fund and the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, and the co-producers include: Center of Audiovisual Technologies CeTA, Lower Silesian Film Center, Wytwórnia Filmów Wartościowych i Feature films, Love.Frame , ALEF Film & Media.