'Lead Children,' Directed by Maciej Pieprzyca and Starring Joanna Kulig, Kinga Preis, and Michał Żurawski, Will Debut on February 11th on Netflix

Lead Children is a story inspired by true events from the 1970s that took place in Silesia. The series tells the story of a young female doctor who defies the communist apparatus to save the health of the youngest. Alongside Joanna Kulig, we will also see Kinga Preis, Michał Żurawski, Agata Kulesza, Marian Dziędziel, and Zbigniew Zamachowski.

The series Lead Children is a story of courage, determination, and hope that shows that one brave person is enough to initiate change. The main character - Jolanta Wadowska-Król, played by Joanna Kulig, is a young, idealistic doctor who discovers that what was called "mysterious illnesses" in children is actually related to the operation of the smelter in Szopienice. Wadowska-Król decides to act within the Silesian community despite pressure from the authorities and persistent attempts to cover up the matter. Furthermore, there is a real threat to her career and the safety of her family - her children and husband (played by Sebastian Pawlak).

Lead Children shows resistance to change and the strength one must find within oneself to oppose it. In the character of Jola Wadowska-Król, I saw above all honesty, extraordinary courage, persistence, and uncompromising nature. Her life story poses the question of whether we, in her place, would find enough strength in ourselves to stand alone against the system. Proper preparation, the atmosphere on set - all this allowed me to completely immerse myself in the world of this character and feel her rhythm. It was a fascinating, intense, and exhausting job, but precisely because of that, a true one - says Joanna Kulig, the actress playing Jolanta Wadowska-Król.

Unfortunately, influential representatives of the system stand in the way of Wadowska-Król, for whom revealing the truth about the Szopienice smelter is a major threat. One of them is the SB officer Hubert Niedziela (Michał Żurawski), who is tasked with concealing the scandal at the smelter. The political dimension of the story is also deepened by the actions of Zdzisław Grudzień (Zbigniew Zamachowski), who will do everything to maintain power and influence in Silesia, as well as the Silesian Voivode Jerzy Ziętek (Marian Dziędziel) - a man torn between political interests and concern for his own Silesian community.

Maciej Pieprzyca, known for his sensitivity in portraying Silesian identity and social issues, takes viewers on a journey to the 1970s. Viewers will notice characteristic elements of that era - from the reconstruction of the realities of those years, Silesian locations from Katowice, Zabrze, Gliwice, and Bytom, to the emotional tone of those times - the nascent spirit of fight and hope for change.

The series Lead Children is inspired by the life of Dr. Jolanta Wadowska-Król, who decided to publicize mass cases of lead poisoning among children living near the Szopienice Smelter, and by Michał Jędryka's book of the same title.

The series premieres on February 11th, only on Netflix.

Information about the series:

Synopsis: The series tells the story of a young doctor, Jolanta Wadowska-Król, who notices that children living near the Szopienice Steelworks are massively falling ill with lead poisoning, a disease caused by heavy metal contamination. After her discovery, the protagonist attempts to save the sick children and confronts the oppressive communist state apparatus. The production will transport the audience to the industrial atmosphere of Upper Silesia in the 1970s. It is here, in the realities of the working-class region, that dangerous political influences and the social mission of Dr. Wadowska-Król will intertwine.

Premiere Date: February 11, 2026

Number of Episodes: 6

Genre: Drama

Director: Maciej Pieprzyca

Scriptwriter: Jakub Korolczuk

Producer: Wiesław Łysakowski

Line Producer: Robert Feluch

Production Company: Orient Film Cinematography: Witold Płóciennik Set Design: Joanna Macha, Marcelina Początek - Kunikowska

Makeup: Jolanta Dańda; Joanna Kulig's styling - Waldemar Pokromski; Joanna Kulig's makeup - Monika Kaleta

Costumes: Agata Culak

Editing: Piotr Kmiecik

Sound: Radosław Ochnio

Music: Antoni Łazarkiewicz, Mary Komasa

Cast:

Joanna Kulig - Jolanta Wadowska-Król,

Agata Kulesza - Professor Berger,

Kinga Preis - Wiesia Wilczek,

Michał Żurawski - Hubert Niedziela,

Marian Dziędziel - Jerzy Ziętek,

Zbigniew Zamachowski - Zdzisław Grudzień,

Sebastian Pawlak - Zbyszek Król

Locations: Katowice, Ruda Śląska, Świętochłowice, Zabrze, Gliwice, Bytom, Warsaw