The Polish American Awareness Foundation (PAAF) is proud to have recently merged its ongoing Jan Karski documentary efforts with those of acclaimed filmmaker Slawomir Grunberg. Grunberg, founder of Log In Productions (logtv.com), has been living and making films in the United States for nearly 30 years. Many of these films have dealt with both Polish-Jewish subjects. The PAAF and their passionate team will help Grunberg’s Log In Productions to bring to screen a long-overdue story of righteous humanity.

Inspired both by the success of its “Jan Karski – An Ambassador of Peace and Justice” event at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, thrown in conjunction with the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois and PLUS Journal the PAAF set out to produce a film that challenges the viewer’s notions of effective activism. Simultaneously, Slawomir Grunberg was aiming to do the same, telling Karski’s story using and innovative technique called rotoscoping, in which animators trace over live-action film movement, frame by frame, for an animated look.

After learning of each other’s projects, the groups excitedly determined that a collaboration of resources would ensure the story of Karski reaches the widest audience both in the United States and abroad.

Beyond a logistical match made in heaven, the synergy of Grunberg’s efforts and the philanthropic efforts of the PAAF was present long before their first meeting. In 2000, Slawomir Grunberg’s feature documentary, School Pratyer: A Community at War (2000), won the Jan Karksi Award, given to filmmakers who have “exhibited moral courage on behalf of others.” Jan Karski presented Grunberg with the award himself. It was one of his last public apparences. He passed away months later at the age of 86.

Says Grunberg: “My goal in documentary filmmaking is to make films witch can - in even the smallest way - change the world we live in: reveal unknown-but-important situations, help better understand one another, educate people about existing conflicts, and look for solutions in solving them.”

The PAAF’s interest in telling Karski’s story stems from a similar exposure to the man himself.

In holding its “Jan Karski – An Ambassador of Peace and Justice” event at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, thrown in conjunction with the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois and PLUS Journal, they had the opportunity to watch yet-unseen footage of Karski’s last taped interview. The man who filmed it, E. Thomas Wood, the leading American Karski historian, was there to speak on the man he spent years alongside while penning Karski: How One Man Tried to Stop the Holocaust.

After speaking at the event, PAAF President Paul Hardej and Wood agreed that showcasing the lifelong missions of Karski could urge audiences to recognize how far we have to go as a society before we eradicate the world of the horrific genocides that continue to plague humankind.

In the case of the Karski documentary, Grunberg sees the opportunity for this as well, and in all a more action-filled story than more documentary subjects provide.

“This story has all the elements a good film needs, documentary or otherwise. There’s drama, conflict, charisma, bravery, and a message all of humanity can relate to,” adds Grunberg.

To accommodate the dual complexity of the story and message, Grunberg plans to combine tradional documentary elements with fiction film devices and the aforementioned rotoscoping. The challenge, Grunberg admits, is combining these elements for a final effect that audiences respond to.

One difference between the Karski film and most documentaries will be the lack of consistent interviews. Instead of using footage of Karski himself, the film will bring to life his message through animated reenactments of his words and deeds. One oft-revisited interview with famed Polish activist Professor Wladislaw Bartoszewski will serve as periodic narration of the Karski story. Another short interview with President Bill Clinton, a former student of Karski’s at Georgetown, will be utilized.

Ultimately, after nearly 60 years, a story Karski always intended for Hollywood will finally get there.

“It’s amazing that such a rich and complex life was so underappreciated for so long,” muses Grunberg.

In the ‘40s, Karski tried to convince Hollywood that his story was film-worthy, but he was ignored because of its politically incorrectness. In Communist Poland, it was ignored for the same reason. Finally, during the twilight of Karski’s life he was “rediscovered” by documentarian Claude Lanzmann as he compiled interview footage for his 9-hour Holocaust film, Shoah (1985). Since then, interest in Karski and examination of his story has slowly grown.

Adds Grunberg, “What surprises me is that he may have been forgotten forever if not for this documentary.”

In the end, education and change is what all involved with this project hope for. And with one will come the other. While the film will certainly target American and Polish audiences, it addresses subject matter that will surely prove meaningful and relevant to residents of numerous continents and countries. Above all, the story will aim to further reconcile Polish and Jewish relations.

Concludes Grunberg, “What Karski did as a Polish Gentile to spread information about the Holocaust will always make him the best person to moderate this dialogue between Jews and Poles. Education is what’s needed to bring about change, and I see this film and the story of Karski’s life greatly facilitating this much-needed change.”