Leave No Traces

After the brutal killing of a student by Polish militia in 1983, the State cracks down on the sole witness and attempts a cover-up at the highest level.

After the brutal killing of a student by Polish militia in 1983, the State cracks down on the sole witness and embarks on a smear campaign involving intimidation and blackmail. Based on true events, the film’s compelling narrative and forensic level of detail reveal the extent to which the government will go to avoid scrutiny. Very much a film in the tradition of Andrzej Wajda’s Man of Marble, Jan P Matuszyński’s second feature portrays a critical period in Poland’s history and the realities of life under martial law.

Based on the book Żeby nie było śladów by Cezary Łazarewicz, Leave No Traces was selected as the Polish entry for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022.