00:00:10:24

Mateusz in office

Ladies and Gentlemen. May I?

00:00:13:20

text

Mateusz Kijowski.

Creator of the Committee for the Defense of Democracy.

In 2015 and  2016, he organized the  largest  demonstrations

anti-government in post-communist Poland.

00:00:23:11

title

The Leader

00:00:59:04

text

Spring 2020

00:01:16:09

Gosia at the hair salon

Jesus, how much dust here, you have to clean up man.

00:01:20:01

Mateusz at the hair salon

You have to bring a lot of small children and  they wipe everything, with their  hands, clothes, everything

00:01:29:00

Gosia

Listen our stand in front of the court today is somehow spreading, lots of new people are sharing it, liking it.

00:01:38:05

Mateusz

Listen, do you want to practice this straightener on  me?  Because  I'm  very  curious what would come out of    it.

Gosia

Have you seen it?

00:01:49:20

Mateusz

Now will I have to wear a hat?

Gosia

No

00:02:02:10

Mateusz

Jesus Mary, what have you done to me?

00:02:06:19

Gosia on the street

Piotr, wait, we  came for some  purpose  with  this  banner.

00:02:12:09

Gosia

It is still  half past   nine,   someone from this disciplinary chamber might still come in, and you guys are taking the conference.

00:02:19:07

Gosia

We've come to point them out, to scold them a little bit, not to do TV for background on Free Courts.

00:02:31:06

Gosia

What time is it?

Mateusz on the street

In twenty-two 

Gosia

Two more minutes  and we go

00:02:39:22

Mateusz

We lost the cops.

Female

No,  they went, they entered the  crowd

Mateusz

Well, exactly

00:02:45:04

Mateusz

And what will happen to us?  Nobody    will  take  care of  us  now?

00:02:51:06

Female

Not afraid that court decisions will be made under the influence of politicians. That court decisions will be made out of fear, out of concern. Thank you very much because that's a very big cost that the greatest person pays by standing up against a power that wants to take all the power for itself

00:03:14:15

Female

On the other hand, it's also a very great joy to have this opportunity, to learn from people like this. To see what each and every one of us can also do in our actions, in our lives, in our free time, to not let our freedom be taken away.

00:03:40:04

Mateusz on the street

Two of my  defenders are  there. And I already  know  why,  because  my  defenders  are  also  defenders of Tulei.

00:03:49:15

Gosia

Zacharski?

Mateusz

Yes,  Zacharski  and  Dubois. Come on,  we'll go  to the  square. Okay.

00:04:28:15

Text on the wall

District Court in Proszków

00:04:31:00

Mateusz arrives in court

Good morning. Should  you  shake  hands  at  all? We kiss without shaking hands.

00:05:12:18

Mateusz at the restaurant

I ordered a native  Polish  dish.

Female

What?

Mateusz

Kebab

00:05:20:07

All nationalists  after the march  go to the  kebab.

00:05:27:20

Female

Listen,  I'm going to say   something,   because  I have to say.  We  cannot  criticize  anyone  if we do  not  restrain  our own language. And   there is a lot   of this  language  and  I do not   like the attack  on religious people very  much.

00:05:44:22

Mateusz

For   example, I don't    like  how  everyone  talks  about  Kaczyński  "dwarf"

Female 1

He is handsome.

Female 2

What should I call him?

Mateusz

Kaczynski. Jaroslaw  Kaczynski

Female 1

President

00:06:01:00

Mateusz

There are many  ways. Listen, the  problem  is  not his  height. The problem  is what it  does. He is a criminal.

Female 1

His brain is a problem

00:06:09:05

Male

Is Kaczelnik ok?

Female 1

Nope. You are insulting  Pilsudski.

Male

Kaczelnik?

Female 1

Ah, Kaczelnik

00:06:18:15

Mateusz

In  my opinion, there is no  need to look for  offensive  words,  all  these  words  are  offensive  in  fact. So  how do we use  offensive  terms  for  Kaczynski - for what? Suffice it  to say that he  is  a criminal  and  that he breaks the  law,  right?

00:06:29:18

Female

What is the "Monkey Brain"?

Mateusz

I would  not  try

Female 1

No,  that's what  I  should  be at  all.  I'm about  to leave.

Female

"Wściekły  pies", "Tęczowe  Szoty", "Kamikaze"

Mateusz

These are  any drinks    like that?

Female

Exactly

00:06:58:23

Female

Do you have a manifesto for Sunday?

00:07:23:05

Mateusz in office

Ladies and Gentlemen. There are  two  ways to build.  In opposition and in support.

This is also the case with social or professional engagement. We can fight the competition, the marketplace, our own weaknesses, and even the harsh shadow of the fog.

00:07:49:22

But if we are not well motivated, if we are not partners in the project, if we do not talk to and listen to each other, then what had been a joy and satisfaction suddenly becomes a nuisance.

00:08:06:15

Nope.  Exactly. I fucked up.

00:08:14:19

Gosia at home, doing Mateusz’s hair

What’s on your head? Didn't you even comb it yourself? 

Straighten up again.

Mateusz

I'm going to get it straight if I straighten up again.

Gosia

You will get a hernia. Beard. Well, take this head.

00:08:30:17

Gosia at home

If anything, you also don't say you're going to do something, what you're going to do, because you're going to have a bunch of more careerists again right away. You will see. Politicians who will want to realize themselves, and everyone sees that now is a good field only no one has an idea and everyone is waiting until there is one who will pull them understand? And then they'll suddenly advise you and I'll have to tilt at windmills, to take care of you.

00:09:04:08

I was nervous. I think I'll  lock you at  home  and  tie you  to the radiator.

00:09:25:12

Zacharski at the office

I like this one the most: " Free  courts,  free  people"

00:09:38:04

Dubois at the office

Ladies and gentlemen, you are cordially invited. The date of the last hearing is approaching, on the sixth of March we have been invited to a hearing where there will be closing arguments, so the time is coming that after a few years we will, first of all, be able to come to the truth, secondly, we will be able to comprehensively present all the arguments in this case for the first time.

00:10:07:20

Mateusz on the street

Let’s get these in order. Okay…no this is not correct.

00:10:20:02

Yes… Con-sti-tu-tion. This is  good.

00:10:40:07

Policeman

The most important for  us  today. Masks.  Masks  and  social distancing. This is  a priority for  us  today.

Mateusz

For us, this has long  been  a priority,  so  that..

00:10:53:02

Policeman

If there's any gentleman whom you don't want here, then just tell us.Of course,   the  place where you are must be  left  as you found it.  And  we don't propagate  any  fascist content.

Mateusz

Or communist

00:11:13:05

Gosia on the street

Sir, this is a  provocation. Someone  will then  take a picture of the  gathering  and  say  that the participants of the assembly  were  without  masks  and  without  distance. They do not  keep  a distance  from  our  people,  we ask  you to  react.

00:11:26:17

Mateusz

I'm sorry, you're disrupting because you're not following sanitary instructions. You're causing. No it's not just my opinion because you're not following sanitation recommendations. That's not my opinion, that's the truth, I'm very much asking you to take these gentlemen.

00:11:45:23

Voice from the loudspeaker, reading preambule of Polish constitution

All citizens of Poland. The ones who believe in God, who is the source of truth, justice, good and beauty,

00:12:01:21

And the ones who don’t share this belief, and finding these universal values in other sources, equal in rights and obligations towards the common good, Poland. Grateful to our ancestors for their  work, for the struggle for   independence paid for with  huge sacrifices, for the culture  rooted  in the Christian  heritage of the nation  and universal human values. 

00:12:35:17

Referring to the  best  traditions of the First  and  Second  Polish Republic,  obliged to pass on to  future  generations  everything that is  valuable  from  over a thousand years of  heritage,

00:12:53:17

United by the bonds  of community  with  our compatriots    scattered  throughout  ..

00:13:00:16

Voice from speaker

(Female voice in Chinese language)

00:13:09:01

Mateusz

I'm very  sorry

00:13:14:03

Voice from speaker

[Female voice in Chinese language]

00:13:26:06

Mateusz singing Polish National Anthem

[Polish national anthem]

00:13:38:02

Mateusz

Anthem done.

00:13:41:04

Mateusz

This is a Chinese device  and  it as it  changes  the mode, it informs you that it has changed the  mode.

Female

This was incredible

Mateusz

But not very relevant.

00:14:12:04

Mateusz in office

I am convinced  that  together  we can  build  a better  world. A world of  values  and  ideas. A better  future.

00:14:22:08

Sorry, I have to drink some  water, because I'm drying up. 

00:14:28:17

I am convinced  that  together  we can  build  a better  world. A world of  values  and  ideas. Not better! No, it was good, it was good.

00:14:49:20

Mateusz in court room

Your Honour, if  I may I would like  to say that I had  a  phone call  from  Mr.  Piotr that  he  and  his  lawyer fell into traffic jams  in  Warsaw  and  that  about  ten  minutes  will be  late. And from  the patron  Szczepaniak I also had a phone call  that they are in trouble on the motorway.

00:15:18:02

Female

We’ve got it.

00:15:22:07

Mateusz with lawyers in court corridor

What’s it made of? 

Zacharski

Good year. Current.

Mateusz

The vapours can make you feel… 

Zacharski

This is such  Beaujolais nouveau. We'll see. Oh!

00:15:47:08

Szczepaniak speaking during the court hearing

I am     always  far  from  giving  some  dramatic  speeches in  my  speeches, but  here  it  really  is. This process, whether we like it or  not, is a political process,  perhaps the  first  political  process  since 1989.

00:16:09:00

It  is no coincidence   that  the  one  who  started the process of fighting  for democracy in  Poland in  an   open way,   that  this  man  today sits    on  the  bench.

00:16:23:07

I realize, High Court, that  Themis is blind. But  blindness is    one thing, and  blindness is  another.  Themis  is  not  completely blind.  Themis should have  regard for the  surrounding  reality,  because  this  verdict, in  this  case  will  also  build  reality.

00:16:48:03

In a  sense,  it will be a message  to a large number of  Poles. Because  here in   the  dock,  the High Court,  sits   democracy,  which  should  not  appear   here.

00:17:15:15

Voice from the loudspeaker, reading preambule of Polish constitution

We, the nation of Polish, all  citizens of the Republic of Poland,  both  believers in God who is the source of  truth,  justice, goodness  and  beauty

As well as not sharing  this  faith, and  these  universal values    deriving  from  other  sources,  equal  in  rights  and  duties towards   the common good,   Polish. Grateful to our ancestors for their  work, for the struggle  for  independence paid for by  huge sacrifices,  for the culture  rooted..

00:17:40:05

Gosia on the street

Play! Come on, play!

00:17:45:05

Mateusz

Wait. Listen,  something  is  wrong. Oh, Jesus Mary. The batteries sit down.

00:17:54:05

Gosia

Let's read. Take out the  Constitution. Let's read  the Constitution.

Mateusz

But without a microphone, how?

Gosia

Without microphone.

Mateusz

Where do I have..? About the Court, it was here. Well here, well,

00:18:20:23

Mateusz

Article 173  of the Constitution of the Republic of  Poland

Courts and  Tribunals  are  superior    and independent of    other  authorities.

Article 174. Courts  and Tribunals give   judgments on behalf  of the Republic of Poland 

00:18:43:09

Female

People walk here, it’s Sunday, they  want  peace  a little. There are brawls here every Sunday.

00:18:49:05

Crowd

To the church!

Female

Well, and you? to the trash

00:18:52:24

Mateusz

Okay, you have to sing the anthem I guess and wrap it up?

00:19:09:08

Mateusz, at home, singing

Lord, protect  me  from  hatred. Save  me  from  contempt  Lord. After all,  you are  an immeasurable  good that   I will not  express in  words.

00:19:31:00

Mateusz

 Listen,  I  will probably  not  take  sandals  to Jasiek

00:19:33:22

Gosia

I   thought you wanted to wear  sandals to  court.

00:19:38:09

Take these  shoes  along the insert, not   across,  because the zipper  is about to break.

00:19:48:10

Oh, there is Jasiek. [phone ringtone  ]  Hi, did you take a  blessing  from  Christ  from  Świebodzin?

00:20:02:24

You haven’t? Haven’t you put it in a jar and brought it here? You would let it out at the court room.

00:20:13:02

Mateusz

I was constituted.

Gosia

Let’s go.

00:20:28:08

Mateusz, at the train station

I would like to share    with  you  my experiences,   encourage you  to  talk, to listen to  each other,  so that  in  conversation, in  discussion, in  arguing we find    better  ways  to  build  of our  future.

00:20:47:06

To change the  world,  to  improve  it,  to  gain  motivation  and  commitment.

00:20:54:24

Nope. It makes no  sense. One gets stuck if one does not think it over carefully.

00:21:13:24

Female

There is a rainbow on the steps of the courthouse. 

00:21:19:03

Female 1

Please,  then maybe now   we will stand  like that

00:21:40:15

Judge in court room

In connection with Article 12 (1)     of the Criminal  Code, on  the  basis  of Article  271(3)     of the Criminal Code,  I sentence  him  to  one  year of deprivation of  liberty.

00:21:49:21

Pursuant to  Article 69(1)     and  (2) of  the Criminal Code, in  conjunction with Article 70(1)     of the Criminal   Code, the  execution of the sentence of imprisonment  imposed on Mateusz  Kijowski  in the second point,     conditionally suspend for  a  period of  two  years  of probation.

00:22:02:23

Gosia, coming out from the court

Come, Mateusz. Remember,  don't  say

Mateusz

Yes,  yes. First  you  can  say

00:22:12:24

TV journalist

What do you do now?

Mateusz

I mean, I work in  a  barbershop  now  as a hairdresser's  assistant  and  I cut and wash hair.

Female

I am an example

TV journalist

You, yes?

00:22:24:11

TV journalist

How long for?

Mateusz

Well, maybe half a year or so, from the beginning. I  basically  started    learning  at the  end  of last  year.

TV journalist

And this is some kind of passion?

Mateusz

No, this was the only job I could find. After I was accused of dishonesty, I couldn’t find of job for three years. The owner of the hairdressing shop extended a helping hand.

TV journalist

In Warsaw? Where  in  Warsaw?

Mateusz

In Warsaw,  Żelazna  64

Mateusz

It's called Wola Wlosow.

00:22:59:16

TV journalist

And it was difficult to switch?

Mateusz

Nope. I  mean, I've  had  some  experience  in  this  area  before.

TV journalist

And you  cut your hair    yourself?

Mateusz

No, that’s the boss

TV journalist

Thanks  a lot, good luck.

00:23:19:12

Mateusz, with client at the hair salon

In my family, There's a joke that's been going around in my family for a long time about a hairdressing apprentice, which has recently come back to me with a redoubled force because of my situation.

00:23:28:09

The apprentice cuts the client’s hair and cuts him by mistake, the master smacks his hands. Then again, he cuts the client again. The master smacks him even more.

00:23:48:00

Then, while the master is busy, the apprentice cuts a bit of the client’s ear off. The client quickly hides the ear under the chair and says, ‘put it away, put it away, or he will kill us both!’ 

00:24:08:04

You will be pleased

00:24:24:08

Mateusz

Gosia,  would you like  to take  a  look  and  criticize something?

Gosia

Yes

Mateusz

I know you’ve    been  dreaming  about  this for a long time

00:24:41:13

Gosia

No no, it’s great. She will wear it like this. Where do you usually part your hair, Kasia?

client Kasia

I don't have one right now.

Mateusz

She left in the back

Kasia

Well, I left it at  home  today

00:24:48:12

Gosia

She will have gradation here when it lifts up.

Mateusz

Shall I make any changes?

Gosia

No

00:24:58:13

Kasia

Hey, Queen Margot

Gosia

Cool

00:25:02:23

Kasia

I see myself!

00:25:17:16

Text on the poster

Freedom is  where  I  am

00:25:35:17

Demonstration

Wypierdalać

00:25:37:11

Text

WOMEN'S STRIKE AGAINST ABORTION BAN

00:26:29:11

Police

Please go off the road to the sidewalks

Police, crosstalk with inaudible demonstrators

We would like to inform you that  no  gathering has   been  reported at this  point,  on  this  road. 

00:26:41:15

Police, crosstalk with inaudible demonstrators

Your behavior  is  illegal  

Demonstration

Not true, you are here just like us

Police, crosstalk with inaudible demonstrators

Please get off the road and disperse.

00:26:55:20

Police

Mrs. Kasia, you’ve already been told many times.

00:27:01:21

Mrs. Kasia

Please leave   me alone

00:27:07:14

Mrs. Kasia

You’re hurting my hands

Police

Get  up

Mrs. Kasia

You’re hurting my hands

Police

Get   up  and  follow  orders.

Mrs. Kasia

Nope!

00:27:15:23

Mrs. Kasia

Leave me   alone! Damn  Kulsony

00:27:24:12

Police

Okay,  get  you   back on  your feet

Male

Make a transition,  make a  transition

00:27:29:13

Police

Get back    on your feet  and  walk  normally

00:27:38:24

Police

   Come   here, follow the  orders! 

Police

Follow the    orders!

Mrs. Kasia

I am not subordinate to uniformed

00:27:48:23

Police

Come here   

Mrs. Kasia

I  have to sit down

Police

Come up, I will approach you

Mrs. Kasia

No ... nowhere  to approach

Mrs. Kasia

Don't you understand guy? Because you're jerking me.

00:28:01:09

Police

Calm   down 

Mrs. Kasia

I will not calm  down

Police

Calm   down 

Mrs. Kasia

I will not calm down because you have no right to do what you do.

00:28:07:19

Police

You have committed an offence

Mrs. Kasia

I did not commit any  offense

00:28:11:08

Police

Calm   down 

00:28:12:09

Mrs. Kasia

Article 52  of the Constitution assures  me  ..

Police

Madam!

00:28:22:12

Mateusz in office

Now there will be a  key  sentence

00:28:38:05

Text

Mateusz Kijowski

00:28:41:15

Text

Malgorzarzad Rosłońska

00:29:28:22

Text

directing and  cinematography

Piotr Malecki

assembly

Arkadiusz Iwaniuk

00:29:32:08

Text

scenario

Piotr Małecki,Arkadiusz  Iwaniuk

sound

Piotr Knop / Toya Sound Studios

00:29:35:12

Text

producer

Piotr Malecki

producer co-ordinator

Joanna Tatko

00:29:38:15

Text

In the soundtrack of the film, a fragment was re-recorded,

in which the preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland is read.

the text of the preamble reads

Andrzej "Staś" Szypulski

music

The first piano concerto in E minor by Fryderyk Chopin.

execution

Zuzana Simurdova (Piano)  and  Mazurka String Quintet 

00:29:45:08

Text

the authors of the film  would like  to thank:

Katarzynie Augustynek | Glebowi Bartoniowi | Adamowi Baworowskiemu | Katarzynie Biel | Tacjanie Blicharz

Bartoszowi Bodio | Anecie Bojanowskiej | Iwonie Brandt | Józefowi Chaber | Sabinie Chaber | Jackowi Dubois

Krzysztofowi Dąbkowi  | Wojciechowi Fencke | Ewie Chomczyńskiej-Borowskiej | Małgorzacie Ferfet

Janowi Gajewskiemu | Januszowi Gnypowi | Zbigniewowi Hajdackiemu | Katarzynie Izydorczyk

Ewie Jedynasiak | Olgierdowi Jeleńskiemu | Leokadii Jung | Pawłowi Juszczyszynowi

Magdalenie Kik | Izabelli Koniarskiej | Markowi Kossakowskiemu | Piotrowi Koziołowi | Maciejowi Kroczak

Tomaszowi Krukowi | Annie Lech | Elżbiecie Lesiak | Annie Łabuś | Julii Łowkis | Barbarze Łuczkiewicz

Januszowi Majchrzakowi | Jadwidze Majchrzak | Mariuszowi Malinowskiemu | Sylwii Małeckiej

Krystianowi Markiewiczowi | Wojciechowi Mazowieckiemu | Mateuszowi Mikowskiemu | Urszuli Moszczyńskiej

Wojciechowi Onyszkiewiczowi | Albertowi Parzyszek | Danucie Pauk | Wiesławowi Piaseckiemu

Hannie Pietkiewicz-Sałdan | Krystynie Piotrowicz | Benjaminowi Plapis | Annie Plucie | Ninie Polak

Januszowi Polowczykowi | Grażynie Pozarzyckiej | Grzegorzowi Rokickiemu | Annie Rycombel

Joannie Rzymowskiej | Katarzynie Sikorze | Stanisławie Skłodowskiej | Ewie Skórskiej | Piotrowi Stańczakowi

Aleksandrze Stańskiej | Teresie Sucholewskiej | Andrzejowi Sucholewskiemu | Jarosławowi Szczepaniakowi

Arkowi Szczurkowi | Mirosławie Trzaskoma | Igorowi Tulei | Ewie Umińskiej | Joannie Wojszcz

Małgorzacie Wołyńskiej | Grażynie Woźniak | „Wujkowi” | Michałowi Zacharskiemu | Waldemarowi Żurkowi

and

C’office Piaseczno, Napo Images, Panos Pictures

00:29:57:03

Text

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