George the Hedgehog (film)

George the Hedgehog
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Wojciech Wawszczyk Jakub Tarkowski Tomasz Leśniak
Screenplay by	Rafał Skarżycki
Based on	Jeż Jerzy by Rafał Skarżycki and Tomasz Leśniak
Starring	Borys Szyc Maria Peszek Maciej Maleńczuk Sokół Michał Koterski
Music by	Jan Duszyński Jacek Szymkiewicz
Edited by	Wojciech Włodarski
Production company	Paisa Films Produkcja
Distributed by	Monolith Films
Release date	11 March 2011 (2011-03-11)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	Poland
Language	Polish
Budget	2.6 million zł

George the Hedgehog (Polish: Jeż Jerzy) is a 2011 Polish animated comedy film directed by Wojciech Wawszczyk, Jakub Tarkowski and Tomasz Leśniak. It is based on the Jeż Jerzy comic books and tells the story of two neo-Nazis and a mad scientist creating a clone of the title character in an attempt to defeat him.^[1]

Plot

The story begins in the Professor's lab, where he and his assistant are conducting an experiment. As a result, the computer produces the image of a hedgehog. Professor sends his assistant to find one.

The next day, Stefan and Zenek attack Jerzy and his lover Yola, but are defeated. They are approached by Assistant, who offers them a job. He takes them to the Professor's lab and tells them to acquire Jerzy's DNA, then kill him. They secure the DNA, and a clone is created, but Jerzy survives. The Assistant explains that from their analysis it seems Jerzy has a full potential to become a pop star, but there was a problem: he couldn't be contained.

Jerzy meets with Yola, but the clone appears and assaults Yola. She becomes angry and leaves. As Jerzy tries to explain, he's captured by Assistant, who mistakes him for the clone. He escapes, but is seen by Stefan and Zenek, who collide with the clone and beat him, before being stopped by Yola. She drives the clone home, thinking he's the original Jerzy. However, as the clone abuses her again, she throws him out of the taxi and drives home.

The true Jerzy is waiting there, but Yola doesn't listen to him. Zenek asks Jerzy to meet under Poniatowskiego bridge by pretending to be Yola. There, Jerzy is knocked unconscious and thrown into the river. He is eventually rescued by the prostitute Lilka.

The clone becomes an international celebrity. Yola wants to come to terms with Jerzy. She meets Lilka, who starts to suspect the truth. Jerzy, decides to regain his good name. He breaks into a concert where the clone is performing, revealing the truth. A fight ensues, and a beam falls and crushes the clone.

Yola witnesses the fight and tries to reach Jerzy, but she's captured by the Assistant. Jerzy pursues them and Assistant is arrested. Yola finally comes to terms with Jerzy. As they talk on the bridge, Professor finds out the clone is still alive, but lets him go, believing he'll manage without him. However, the clone is found by the two Vietnamese chefs and turned into a meal.

Cast

• Borys Szyc as George the Hedgehog
• Maria Peszek as Yola
• Sokół as Stefan
• Michał Koterski as Zenek
• Wojtek Wawszczyk as the clone
• Marcin Hycnar as Krzyś
• Maciej Maleńczuk as Lilka
• Krystyna Tkacz as Stefan's mother
• Grzegorz Pawlak as the scientist
• Jarosław Boberek as the assistant
• Leszek Teleszyński as the politician

Production

The film project was initiated by Paisa Films in 2007 and co-produced with Produkcja which joined in 2009. The production received 1.6 million złoty from the Polish Film Institute and had a total budget of 2.6 million złoty. The film was digitally animated and combines cutout and 3D techniques.^[2] It took two years to make and involved a team of 14 people, although according to co-director Wojciech Wawszczyk, "everyone worked for six". After the script was finished the actors recorded their lines. In August 2010 the animation work was completed and editing began.^[3]

Release

The premiere was on 11 March 2011 in Poland through Monolith Films.^[4]

References

External links

• George the Hedgehog on IMDb