Łukasz, a young law graduate, has no intention of working as a lawyer. He is interested in photography. His father, who would like to see his son become a defence counsel, sends him to an old friend and sought-after lawyer, Michał Wilczek, to persuade the boy to join the profession. In actual fact the lawyer does not want to persuade him at all. However, he tells him the story of a trial from some years before, in which he took part.
It is 1990. A young female television reporter, eight months pregnant, is murdered. The police arrest her colleague, Jerzy Kuter, with whom she had a relationship for over a year. Jerzy, a much older man, has a family: a wife and two children. He claims he didn't kill the girl. Though the prosecutors cannot find any direct evidence, the man is found guilty.
Łukasz is drawn in by the lawyer's story, and he tries to find out if Jerzy Kuter really was the killer. He starts analysing files from the archives. He unexpectedly discovers that Wilczek lied to him. He finds a piece of evidence, overlooked in the investigation, that probably proves the sentenced man's innocence. Pardoned by the president, the journalist is free by now. Lukasz tries to persuade him to fight for a not-guilty verdict. The man refuses, he doesn't want to revisit the past, and thinks the proof of his innocence can be challenged.
The events in the script were inspired by a true story that took place in the early 1990's. One of the authors behind the idea, lawyer Andrzej Malicki, took part in the trial. Getting to the truth and the trial itself are shown from three points of view.
"Though our film shows the mechanism of how courts work and verdicts are passed", says director Wiesław Saniewski, "to me it was more important to portray human nature; the state of mind of those who judge others but often hold the mistaken belief that they have a monopoly on truth. In the current socio-political situation of our country, this seems especially important".
A year later Łukasz takes part in an oratory competition, in which he puts the case of Jerzy Kuter before the public. It causes extreme reactions in different people. You can see the issue of how the judiciary functions is still a crucial one. The young man faces a tough decision. Will he become a lawyer? Will he take part in the constant game involving someone's freedom, someone else's life? Will he take part in a game that is sometimes only a game of appearances - like the protagonist's favourite film?
" 'Bezmiar sprawiedliwości' is an extremely interesting discourse about morality and responsibility for one's deeds. It is a treatise on the essence of truth and justice. Who is guilty, who is punished, who is innocent - can we really say with full responsibility? Do we have the right to judge others when we ourselves are flawed?" (Robert Gliński about the film)
- Bezmiar sprawiedliwości / Immensity of Justice, Poland, 2006. Screenplay and directed by Wiesław Saniewski, director of photography: Mariusz Palej, film editing by Jarosław Barzan, music by Maciej Muraszko, production design by Marta Krieger, costume design by Anna Weber, makeup artist: Beata Matuszczak, Katarzyna Baszkiewicz, production manager: Andrzej Stachecki. Featuring: Jan Frycz (Michał Wilczek), Robert Olech (Łukasz), Bożena Stachura (Bożena), Jan Englert (Paweł Boś), Artur Barciś (Roman), Artur Żmijewski (Jerzy Kuter), Danuta Stenka (Kamila), Robert Gonera (Wadecki), Ewa Wencel (Łukińska), Maria Pakulnis (Alicja Kuter), Edwin Petryka (Łukiński), Ewa Błaszczyk (Court Member), Marietta Żukowska (Dominika), Tomasz Schimscheiner (Andrzej), Weronika Rosati (Protocole Girl). Produced by Saco Films, co-production: Telewizja Polska S.A. Atlas Sztuki and Max Film Instytucja Filmowa, Cinepol. Released on 9 March 2007.
Author: Joanna Pawluśkiewicz, December 2006