The Champion

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The Champion

2020

1h 31m

Drama

Biography

War

History

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3 Reviews

85%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

It is 1940. The first transport of prisoners arrives at the newly created concentration camp Auschwitz. One of them is Tadeusz "Teddy" Pietrzykowski, pre-war boxing champion of Warsaw. The camp officers force him to fight in the ring for his and other prisoners' lives. However, his every win strengthens the hope that Nazis are not invincible. Auschwitz authorities notice the growing resistance. The confrontation with the authorities of the camp becomes inevitable.

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

A sturdy work, backed with a lovely full orchestral score.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 3, 2021

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Saskia Baron

The Arts Desk

Marcus Barczewski directs in a conventional style, but it's handsomely shot. All the expected themes and tropes are here.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 8, 2021

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Josiah Teal

Film Threat

Suppose you are a fan of boxing films, historical dramas, or the almost forgotten stories of WWII. In that case, this is an inspirational journey into the life of the people's champion in the worst of circumstances.

Rated: 8.5/10

Sep 3, 2021

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Henry R

Great movie. The AI dubbing was flawless. I had actually thought it was done in English until found out it was dubbed. The young actor playing Janek a critical character, was touching, yet received little to no attention in the reviews here or in Wikipedia. Very much worth watching.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

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Jenn L

Great acting and just the right amount of gritty for a movie about a concentration camp. I read a lot about the real Teddy and I would say for the most part this movie was pretty accurate, especially with his personality and fighting skills.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

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Audience Member

I liked this film a lot, I just wish Netflix would give an option to watch it as it was spoken, and not dubbed in English.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/17/22

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jerome h

This movie did not sugar coat the cruel reality of the holocaust as movies based on a true story shouldn't. As a big boxing fan I appreciate that the scenes weren't over the top. I really enjoyed this movie and is a must see.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/04/22

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Maciej Barczewski

Director

Piotr Głowacki

Tadeusz "Teddy" Pietrzykowski

Grzegorz Małecki

Rapportführer

Marcin Bosak

Lagerführer

Marian Dziędziel

Captain

Piotr Witkowski

Walter

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Synopsis

It is 1940. The first transport of prisoners arrives at the newly created concentration camp Auschwitz. One of them is Tadeusz "Teddy" Pietrzykowski, pre-war boxing champion of Warsaw. The camp officers force him to fight in the ring for his and other prisoners' lives. However, his every win strengthens the hope that Nazis are not invincible. Auschwitz authorities notice the growing resistance. The confrontation with the authorities of the camp becomes inevitable.

Director: Maciej Barczewski
Producer: Krzysztof Szpetmański, Leszek Starzyński
Screenwriter: Maciej Barczewski
Production Co: Iron Films, PISF, Telewizja Polska (TVP)
Genre: Drama, Biography, War, History
Original Language: Polish
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 8, 2022
Runtime: 1h 31m

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