Wyszyński was at the helm of the Catholic Church in Poland as its Primate from 1948 until his death in 1981. The movie, entitled Prophet, focuses on his defiance against the country's communist authorities.
The title is taken from the name of an operation masterminded by the communist regime and aimed at destroying the Church. Code-named "Prorok" (Prophet), the operation involved hundreds of agents who followed Wyszyński's every move.
Prophet is a feature film directorial debut for acclaimed Polish filmmaker Michał Kondrat, whose credits include such documentaries on Christian themes as Purgatory and Faustina: Love and Mercy.
Wyszyński is portrayed by Sławomir Grzymkowski. The cast includes a host of prominent Polish and Italian actors. Some 4,000 extras and 40 stuntmen took part in the shooting of the film.
The cardinal’s dialogues with communist party leader Władysław Gomułka and Prime Minister Józef Cyrankiewicz are based on the transcripts of their conversations that were made by the communist security service.
The soundtrack is by Bartosz Chajdecki.
The 126-minute film is due to be released in some 500 cinemas across the United States on November 15 under the title Prophet: The Man Who Paved the Way for Pope John Paul II.
Fathom Events, the movie's distributor, describes it as “an intriguing story about unwavering faith, love for the human person, and the fight for religious freedom that is an utterly heroic prelude to the fall of communism in Europe."
Fathom Events also quotes the director, Michał Kondrat, as saying: “Prophet is going to awaken audiences to a churchman who shows the world what it means to stand against evil. Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński's story sets the stage for the dramatic rise of Pope John Paul II and the fall of communism in Europe. Who is this prophetic man who battled evil and saw a son of Poland rising? Audiences will get to know Wyszyński - a fascinating figure that the world should look to during the hauntingly eerie times we are currently living in."
Next year, Prophet will be released in Spain, France, Mexico, and Latin America.
Polish cardinal on path to sainthood
Wyszyński was ordained a priest in 1924 at the age of 23. He then studied in Poland and abroad for several years before taking residence in the city of Włocławek, north-central Poland, where he taught at a seminary and served the local community.
During World War II, Wyszyński was forced to leave the city because he was wanted by the Gestapo, the Nazi German secret police. He found refuge at the Institute for the Blind in Laski near Warsaw and became a hospital chaplain during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising against the Germans. He also provided religious services for Poland’s underground Home Army.
Wyszyński was made a bishop in 1946 and received a cardinal’s red hat in 1953. He was imprisoned by the communists between 1953 and 1956.
He died of cancer on May 28, 1981, at the age of 79.
He was beatified in 2021. In the Catholic Church, beatification is one step short of being declared a saint.
(mk/gs)