Film Fund. “Wolf Children” – A Story Set Against the Backdrop of Toruń

Toruń has once again become a film set. In October, scenes for the feature film Wolf Children (Wilcze dzieci), directed by Radosław Dunaszewski, were shot in the city. The film’s story is closely connected to Toruń and the surrounding region. The screenplay was inspired by real events from the life of Wanda Szuman, a pioneer of special education who carried out her work in the Kujawy region. The main events of the film unfold here, with the locations and storyline rooted in the region’s authentic history. The production has received support from the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund.

Wolf Children is a story inspired by true events from the 1950s, focusing on two young brothers found in Poland who had grown up in the wild, as well as the relationship between a mentor and her student as they confront the communist system in a struggle to save innocent children traumatised by the turmoil of war.

A rebellious 17-year-old girl, played by Alicja Danel, is expelled from one school after another until she finally encounters the right mentor and a challenging task that gives her a chance to turn her life around. Recruited by the charismatic special education teacher Wanda Szuman to work with twin brothers who have lived like animals since infancy, she wholeheartedly dedicates herself to helping them reintegrate into society and uncovering the mystery of their origins.

Unless the two women can outwit the Communist Party, which has its own reasons for preventing them from helping the boys, the defiant teenager will remain trapped by her inner demons, while the children will be denied the care they desperately need.

Anka and Wanda ultimately succeed, winning a legal battle for custody of the children and working tirelessly with them. The brothers eventually learn to speak, develop social skills and grow into independent adults. Anka, meanwhile, finds a way to overcome her personal trauma through solving the mystery of the feral children and drawing on the wisdom of her mentor, allowing her to move forward with her life.

Wolf Children is a story about the strength of the human spirit, the power of doing good in difficult times, and the solidarity of courageous women working together to protect what matters most.

Wanda Szuman, portrayed by Jolanta Fraszyńska, was deeply committed to helping children. As an educator and social activist, she devoted her life to working with young people, particularly those requiring special care and support. In the film, she becomes the children’s guardian and guide, helping them regain a sense of security and find their place in the world. The cast also includes Łukasz Simlat.

Toruń holds particular significance for the production. Wanda Szuman had strong ties to the city, and its streets and architecture provided a natural setting for a story taking place in the mid-20th century. The film crew worked in several locations, including the Bydgoskie Przedmieście district and Toruń’s Old Town. Filming locations included Mickiewicza, Bydgoska, Przedzamcze, Podmurna, Ciasna, Piekary and Panny Marii streets.

Wolf Children is directed by Radosław Dunaszewski, with cinematography by Maciej Lisiecki and production by Marcin Wierzchosławski. Bydgoszcz-based co-producer Adam Gudell and the Toruń-based Tumult Foundation are also involved in the project. The film is scheduled to premiere in 2027.

The setting and the central character are not the production’s only connections to the Kujawy and Pomorze region. The film’s producer, Marcin Wierzchosławski, co-founder of the Warsaw-based company Metro Films, was born in Żnin in 1971.

The production of Wolf Children is another example of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Government’s commitment to developing the regional film industry. The film is being produced in cooperation with the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund and with support from European funds under an EU-funded project promoting local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with particular emphasis on the creative industries through the placement of products and services in films.

Paweł Jankowski
Department of Promotion

5 November 2026