'The Peasants'- From The Creators Of 'Loving Vincent' Comes to UK Cinemas This December

Independent animation lovers will probably remember the Oscar-nominated animated feature Loving Vincent. More than 100 artists created 65,000 oil paintings based on the style of legendary artist Vincent Van Gogh, retelling the story of his final days. The film was sold as "the first fully painted film". Now the creators are back with another film made in a similar style- and it's titled The Peasants.

Unlike Loving Vincent, The Peasants isn't based on the artstyle of any one artist. Instead, it is inspired by what is known at the 'Young Poland', a time when Polish art, music and literature flourished around the turn of the 20th Century. The film is adapted from the novel Chlopi by Nobel-winning author Wladyslaw Reymont.

The film reunites Loving Vincent directors DK and Hugh Welchman as both writers and directors. It's produced by BreakThru Films, the production company behind the previous film. Although Loving Vincent featured a British and Irish cast, The Peasants features a Polish cast and is made in Polish. The film has been selected as Poland's entry for the 2024 Best International Film Award at the Academy Awards.

The film features a peasant girl, Jagna, forced to marry a much older rich farmer Boryna, despite the fact that she is in love with his son, Antek. Over time, Jagna becomes the object of envy and hate of the local villagers, and must fight to keep her independence. It shows a world of breathtaking beauty and occasional brutality, exposing the underbelly of life in a 19th-century patriarchal community.

The Peasants will be released in UK cinemas on December 8, via Vertigo Releasing. No US release has been announced yet.