“Mr. Jones” Biographical Film by Agnieszka Holland Receives Overwhelming Response at Special Screening in New Delhi

Polish-Ukrainian-British biographical movie “Mr. Jones” by Agnieszka Holland garnered overwhelming response during its special screening at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

The Polish Institute New Delhi, in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of India and the British Council India, hosted a special screening of the Polish-Ukrainian-British biographical movie “Mr. Jones” by Agnieszka Holland at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi recently. The screening of “Mr. Jones” provided a valuable chance to contemplate the historical and political landscapes of the 1930s, highlighting journalism’s pivotal role in revealing the truth during times of suppression. This event underscores the organizers’ ongoing commitment to nurturing cultural and historical awareness through cinematic engagements.

“We are happy to present the Grand Prix Golden Lions award-winning film ‘Mr. Jones,’ directed by Agnieszka Holland, which received an enthusiastic response from the diverse audience of Delhi. This event, held in collaboration with the Ukrainian Embassy and the British Council, underscores the historical events that inspired George Orwell’s Animal Farm,” explains Magdalena Filipczuk, Acting Director, Polish Institute New Delhi.

“Biographical films play a crucial role in storytelling and cultural representation, preserving historical events and figures while celebrating diverse stories. ‘Mr. Jones’ stands out as a highly well-executed biopic that leaves a lasting impression with its intense and thought-provoking narrative, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. I would like to congratulate the organizers for offering such a unique experience for cinephiles in Delhi,” said acclaimed filmmaker and promoter Jitendra Mishra, who was invited to the screening.

His Excellency Dr. Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of India, Ms. Alison Barrett MBE, Director India, British Council, Dr. Magdalena Filipczuk, Acting Director of the Polish Institute, Second Secretary, Mr. Abhay Kumar, Deputy Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, and Michael A. Pal, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum and EUNIC president, were present at the screening along with other dignitaries.

About the Film

“Mr. Jones” is an extraordinary untold story brought to the screen by director Agnieszka Holland. Set in 1933, the film follows the journey of Gareth Jones, an ambitious young Welsh journalist who gained fame for being the first foreign journalist to interview Adolf Hitler. At the time, Jones was working as an advisor to Lloyd George, and his curiosity about the Soviet “utopia,” which was widely reported in the news, led him to seek his next big story: how Stalin was financing the rapid modernization of the Soviet Union.

Jones leaves his government role and travels to Moscow in an attempt to secure an interview with Stalin. There, he meets Ada Brooks, a British journalist who unveils the violent repression of the regime’s truths. Driven by murmurs of a government-induced famine, Jones manages to travel clandestinely to Ukraine, where he witnesses the horrors of man-made starvation, with millions left to starve as all grain is sold abroad to fund the industrializing Soviet empire.

After being deported back to London, Jones publishes an article revealing the atrocities he witnessed. However, the starvation is denied by Western journalists reporting from Moscow, including Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Walter Duranty, all under the Kremlin’s pressure. As death threats mount, Jones fights to bring the truth to light. His findings and struggles eventually inspire George Orwell to write the great allegorical novel “Animal Farm.”

The film was selected to compete for the Golden Bear at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival and won the Grand Prix Golden Lions award at the 44th Gdynia Film Festival in 2019.

About the Filmmaker

Born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1948, Agnieszka Holland is an internationally acclaimed film and television director and screenwriter, best known for her pathbreaking films Europa Europa (1990), for which she received a Golden Globe Award as well as an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay nomination, The Secret Garden (1993), Angry Harvest, and the Holocaust drama In Darkness, the last two of which were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 2017, she received the Alfred Bauer Prize (Silver Bear) for her film Spoor at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 2020, she was elected President of the European Film Academy. In 2023, her film Green Border won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival. In 2019, she made the film ‘Mr. Jones’ based on the true story of the British journalist Gareth Jones, who uncovers the truth of the devastating famine in which millions died in the Ukrainian Republic, Soviet Union in 1932-33.

About the Polish Institute New Delhi

Established in New Delhi in June 2012, the Polish Institute is an extension of the Polish diplomatic mission to India. Polish Institutes are present globally in Europe, North America, and Asia. Their aim is the promotion of Poland and Polish culture through public events in collaboration with Poland’s local partners and friends. The Polish Institute in New Delhi expresses itself through contemporary projects built through cooperation with India’s leading talents and institutions, in order to contribute relevant programming within the cultural sector. Through shared professional exchanges, cultural understanding is nurtured in order to build a strong platform for ongoing dialogue and exchange. The Institute works primarily in the disciplines of visual art, design, literature, music, theatre, film, architecture, and academic research.

Jitendra Mishra is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker, promoter, curator and Jury member from India. Best known for pathbreaking films like The Last Color, Desires of the Heart, Human OAK, I am Kalam and others.