
NEW YORK (February 15, 2011) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all US rights to Academy Award® nominee Agnieszka Holland’s IN DARKNESS from sales agent Beta Cinema. The film, based on the true story “In the Sewers of lvov” by Robert Marshall, is written by David F. Shamoon and stars Robert Wieckiewicz, Benno Fürmann (NORTH FACE, MERRY CHRISTMAS), Maria Schrader (AIMEE & JAGUAR) and Herbert Knaup (RUN LOLA RUN, THE LIVES OF OTHERS). IN DARKNESS is produced by The Film Works, Schmidtz Katze Filmkollektiv and Zebra Films.
In IN DARKNESS, it is 1943, the Polish town of Lvov is occupied by the Nazis. Poverty grows. One day the selfish thief and burglar Leopold Socha encounters a group of Jewish refugees – and hides them for money in the labyrinth of the town’s sewers. At first only interested in lucrative business the whole thing reaches more and more Socha’s conscience. The Polish small-time crook makes up his mind and finally risks his own life for the refugees…
Director Agnieszka Holland said, “This story shows how fine the line is between the best and the worst of human nature.”
“With IN DARKNESS, Agnieszka Holland has made her masterwork and is truly at the peak of her form and maturity. This new true story of WWII and the Holocaust is a revelation. It is a privilege and pleasure to be together again with our friends Agnieszka, Dirk Schuerhoff and Beta Cinema,” states Sony Pictures Classics.
The acquisition of IN DARKNESS continues a longstanding and rich relationship between Michael Barker and Tom Bernard (while at Orion Classics) and Agnieszka Holland, who previously worked together on OLIVIER, OLIVIER and EUROPA, EUROPA. This also marks another wonderful collaboration with Beta Cinema, who negotiated the sales for Academy Award winners THE LIVES OF OTHERS and THE COUNTERFEITERS.


ANOTHER holocaust movie?
Yup, another one. in fact, there should be about another 10+ million films due, since the Nazi’s murdered about 11 MM civilians,and each victim has a unique story. It just so happens that, at 6 million murdered, the Jews got the worst end of the business. Although the plan was total genocide for both the Jews and the Roma (AKA gypsies), many millions of Slavs and other undesirables were murdered, and one could argue that by documenting this darkest of hours, the Jews have been a ‘light unto the nations’ by reminding us of this epoch. Since we live in a world that allows the likes of Ahmedidejad, Farrakan, and other deniers to spew their venom, it is clear that the lessons have yet to be learned.
I Agree with you , there must be many more true stories of people who survived this terrible time, In Darkness is the true story of my late in-laws and how they survived in the sewers of Lvov. I am also the daughter of both parents from Berlin and Hungary who lost most of their family,and are no longer alive to detail their escapes.My brothers and I were always reminded of the uncles aunts and grandparents thatwe never knew.I am sure there will be many tears when I get to see the film, probably in Berlin.
I can also say this about the millions of bank heists, buddy cop, and middle age men whining about life movies.
call it :The Sewer’s List.
I am sick to death of Holocaust passion-plays. 1/3 of the movies on netflix attest to this. Please, let’s explore another historical event – plenty of best and worst of human nature out there, I assure you!!
to Kate,
why don’t you just comed out and say what you really feel – that you’re sick to death of movies about Jewish suffering. I bet your the type that downloaded every Charlie Sheen rant and spent the next several days twittering away about it with all your foolish friends. Wake Up!!! if Holocaust films cease to be shown then history WILL be repeated. The world should never forget what humans are capable of doing to each other.
To Kate,
I strongly approved the previous comment to Kate. Kate must be educated that more stories about the holocaust where 6 million Jews have been killed by Germans it is better for future generation so the history will not repeat again. At the present time we have one crazy lieder of Iran, who wants to do the same as Hitler did. He advocates and speaks out loud and clear that Jewish State Israel must be ” Wiped of the Map”. Kate wake up and see what is going on in this world to day. Go and see the movie and read the book “The girl in the green sweater” where Kristine Chiger Keren. The girl who has experienced this ordeal and tells her story is alive and is the last person of the group who survived hiding in the sewers of the city of Lvov for 14 month.
Does anyone know when “In Darkness” is being released?
As far as we know The Film will be shown in Berlin in Feruary, and sometime later in the UK.