"Wśród nocnej ciszy": Jan Holoubek's series about the 1970s Połaniec crime

The series "Wśród nocnej ciszy" is being made for the streaming platform HBO Max. According to a TVN24 announcement, the first episodes were due on the service from November. On 14 November 2026, Onet Kultura published a report from the filming set in Sękocin, where further scenes were shot.

A story based on a real crime

The script is inspired by Wiesław Łuka's reportage "Nie oświadczam się". The series tells the story of the Połaniec crime, which took place during Christmas Eve. It also covers the court case, which lasted around four and a half years, and the residents of the village the witnesses came from.

Who is behind the production

Jan Holoubek, creator of "Heweliusz" and "Wielka woda", directs the series. He directed episodes 1–4 and 6 himself, while episode 5 was directed by Maciej Kowalewski. The production is handled by Lulu Production on behalf of TVN Warner Bros. Discovery.

The cast includes Jędrzej Hycnar, Adam Woronowicz, Magdalena Biegańska, Tomasz Schuchardt, Michał Żurawski and Justyna Wasilewska, among others. Łukasz Simlat plays the village head, whom the residents treat almost like a ruler.

Filming across many locations

Scenes were shot in Warsaw, Tworki, Nasielsk, Winnica, Żychlin, Sękocin, Częstochowa, Kalisz and the village of Somianka. The crew therefore worked in several regions of Poland, and the night and winter scenes required substantial technical support.

The series will be a difficult watch for some viewers, as it deals with a crime that shocked public opinion in Poland. Its characters are real people, and the production draws on documentary sources.