This coincides with Stachowiak's Polish-language debut in White Courage, a movie set to premiere in Poland just days before the Oscar ceremony.
Stachowiak, 43, traces his roots back to Sosnowiec, southern Poland, but his formative years and acting career flourished in Germany. His journey from a refugee camp in Bochum to Berlin and Hamburg has been nothing short of remarkable.
"My father had to flee Poland in the 1980s, which was a political emigration," Stachowiak told Polish state news agency PAP, reflecting on his family's history and his early exposure to acting.
After honing his skills in Germany, Stachowiak made a bold move two years ago, returning to Poland and settling in the western city of Poznań.
It was there that he connected with filmmaker Marcin Koszałka and landed a role in White Courage, a film exploring the complex history of Polish highlanders' collaboration with the Nazis during World War II.
Despite this being his first Polish-language film, Stachowiak does not speak Polish in it, portraying SS officer Bruno Berg with a keen interest in the ideological convictions of his character.
White Courage and The Teachers’ Lounge showcase Stachowiak's versatility as an actor, with the latter film earning a coveted Oscar nomination.
In The Teachers’ Lounge, Stachowiak plays Miłosz Dudek, a teacher with hidden Polish roots, reflecting on the assimilation experiences of many Poles in Germany.
The film, celebrated for its nuanced storytelling, has already won awards at the Berlinale festival and received nominations at the European Film Awards.
Despite the Oscar buzz, Stachowiak will miss the ceremony due to his theatrical commitments.
"Unfortunately, I won't fly to the gala, because I'm acting in a play," he said.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP