Wild Wild East director says WWII story feels disturbingly relevant again: “It already is”

Set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, the upcoming movie, Wild Wild East, might have a distinct relevance to the present scenario even though it is set in 1943. Director Jan Holoubek, in a recent interview with Variety, opened up about the details of the movie and how relevant it is.

The storyline dives into the array of complications that come into the life of a German official after he is sent to look into the case of a lawyer who has disappeared. Here are the details of Wild Wild East and the relevance it has in today’s world.

Director Jan Holoubek on Wild Wild East’s relevance and more

The storyline of Wild Wild East sheds light on Martin Wolff’s life as he arrives at a remote village where he is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a lawyer. The lawyer is significant in the storyline, as he was protecting the wealth of a Jewish family. After Wolff arrives at this remote village, he begins to understand that the case has complications that he initially could not understand.

From betrayals to the impact of greed, Wild Wild East dives deep into these significant aspects. There is a blend of past and present as the movie progresses, which is also a propelling factor in the storyline. In the interview with Variety, Jan Holoubek reveals that even though the story is about “something that happened a long time ago” and "wouldn't happen again”, in the present scenario, he thinks “it’s about something that can happen again” and “it already is” happening.

While giving examples of how relevant the storyline of Wild Wild East is to the current situation of the world, Jan Holoubek speaks about the “rise of nationalistic right-wing movements” in “Europe” and how the “Russians are repeating the horrors” of World War II, “by murdering civilians, kidnapping children and torturing people” in “Ukraine”.

The primary goal of this movie is to make sure that the younger generation is able to see “what nationalism can lead to”. He also compares the storyline of the movie to “Inglourious Basterds”. Holoubek thinks that it is time “to talk about the Second World War in a different way”. Besides Jan Holoubek, Ewa Puszczyńska, who took on the helm to produce the Wild Wild East, also spoke about the details of the movie, pointing out that it has the ability to “tackle serious issues” while also being able to "introduce a twist”.

Ewa Puszczyńska also hopes that this movie will be able to open the eyes of “younger people,” and it will be their “biggest success” if it happens. A significant aspect of the movie is how “Polish, Ukrainian, Jewish, and German characters” all have both “good and bad sides”. All the characters in the movie “fight to survive” and the “best ones fight to help others survive”.

Some of the cast members of the movie include Itay Tiran taking on the role of Martin Wolff, Joanna Kulig, Robert Więckiewicz, etc. Some of Jan Holoubek’s other notable projects that can also be added to your watchlist are High Water, Doppelganger. The Double, Heweliusz, 25 Years of Innocence, etc.