Lesław Janicki

One of Kiemlicz’s two sons

Lesław Janicki played Damian Kiemlicz. His brother, Wacław Janicki, played Kosma. Franciszek Pieczka was their screen father¹. The separate credits help identify the performers behind two similar characters.

Pieczka recalled that the brothers were chosen for their resemblance to him². His profile explores that testimony and old Kiemlicz’s place in the story. The actors’ real kinship does not turn their characters into historical people: the Kiemlicz family belongs to Sienkiewicz’s novel³.

From historical spectacle to Cricot 2

Lesław Janicki graduated from Kraków’s Academy of Fine Arts. He co-created Druga Grupa and acted in Cricot 2, including The Dead Class. With his brother he published Dziennik z podróży z Kantorem (2000)⁴.

Explore the film’s production history and his brother’s profile.

A telegram offering the role

In a PAP interview, Lesław recalled a telegram to Stanisław Balewicz, director of Krzysztofory, offering the brothers parts in The Deluge. Kantor was already planning their next stage appearance. Accepting the film meant a break with his company; the brothers later returned for The Dead Class⁵.

Training before filming

Maria Oleksiewicz’s report describes the brothers’ three weeks of training at Bogusławice: six o’clock starts, riding, vaulting, hand-to-hand combat and fencing supervised by Waldemar Wilhelm⁶.