"Violetta Villas" biopic reaches Polish cinemas on 27 November

The biopic "Violetta Villas", directed by Karolina Bielawska, opens in Polish cinemas on 27 November 2026. It tells the story of a singer whose voice won over stages in Paris and Las Vegas. Sandra Drzymalska plays the lead.

What the film is about

The film follows Czesława Gospodarek, a girl from the provinces who became a star known as Violetta Villas. Moving to Warsaw with her young son opened the door to the wider world. Success came at a price, though: growing loneliness, addictions and constant pressure from the authorities of communist-era Poland (PRL). According to WP Film, it is the story of a woman trying to reconcile a dazzling career with motherhood and her own demons.

Earlier announcements indicate that the makers do not try to cover the artist's whole life. They focus mainly on the first decade of her career. The story is seen through the eyes of her son.

Sandra Drzymalska's role

The actress spent many months working on movement, charisma and singing to portray the diva as faithfully as possible. She says Villas was extremely brave, had plenty of sex appeal but also a predatory, wild side, and was ahead of her time. Drzymalska stresses that she did not want to build a monument, but to show a determined woman fighting for her ambitions.

The actress's physical transformation won an award at the film festival in Gdynia. According to WP Film, it also earned the approval of Krzysztof Gospodarek, the singer's son, who said Drzymalska had perfectly captured his mother's manner.

Music and cast

The soundtrack was arranged by Marcin Masecki. Viewers will hear the singer's biggest hits, including a duet by Michał Szpak, who sang "Do ciebie, mamo" together with the archive voice of the artist herself.

The cast also includes Jowita Budnik, Mateusz Banasiuk, Borys Szyc, Dorota Kuduk and Cezary Łukaszewicz. Bielawska is the author of the award-winning documentary "Mów mi Marianna". The film was shown in the competition of the Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia.

The sources we used give no information about screenings of the film in the UK.