The Cinematheque

Poland

“Compelling … A fascinating monument to police brutality victim Grzegorz Przemyk and those who fought for his remembrance.”

Olaf Möller, MUBI Notebook

Set in Poland in 1983 and based on actual events, Leave No Traces concerns the case of Grzegorz Przemyk, a high school student beaten to death by authorities in a Warsaw police station. In order to prevent news of this incident reaching the public, the government moves quickly to cover it up. Consequently, Jurek, a close friend of Grzegorz and the only eyewitness to the beating, becomes the number one enemy of the state. Soon the regime invokes its entire power and security apparatus—the secret service, militia, the media, and the courts—to intimidate into silence Jurek and others close to the case, including his parents and Grzegorz’s mother. Jurek must fight to preserve the truth, but the odds are stacked against him. Matuszyński’s powerful film debuted in competition at the 2021 Venice Film Festival.

In Polish with English subtitles

“Leave No Traces presents a veritable litany of institutional rot … Kacper Fertacz’s cinematography paints the airless, oppressive political climate of the ​’80s in smudgy shadows and tea-stained browns.” Guy Lodge, Variety

“Undeniably a tour de force in execution … Leave No Traces creates an absolutely convincing recreation of early ​‘80s Poland, while the no-frills visuals recall the textures of Eastern European drama of that period [by] Andrzej Wadja or Krzysztof Kieslowski.” Jonathan Romney, Screen International

Streaming
December 1 (Friday) through
December 17 (Sunday)

To stream this film:
Follow this link to the virtual platform.
Purchase a ticket for $12 (plus tax) or purchase a multi-film pass (details below). 

Once rented, you will have 72 hours to start the film.
If you are having technical issues with the stream, please click here.
You can also contact EUFF directly by emailing info@​euffonline.​ca.

This film is available to stream in Canada only. 

Five Virtual Film Bundle: $50 (plus tax)
Online Festival Pass: $100 (plus tax) 

Please note: Tickets to in-person screenings do not include access to online EUFF offerings, nor vice versa.