The Big Chief (2025)

Leopold Trepper, WWII spy mastermind, faced a Kafkaesque struggle in 1970s Poland. Once a WWII hero, his "Red Orchestra" fame made him a target for the communists. Stripped of his job and under constant surveillance, he desperately sought a passport but was denied. The USSR, his former ally, saw him as a burden.
News of his plight reached France. The activities of the committee for Trepper's release began. Author Gilles Perrault urged him to emigrate, but attempts to document his story or pressure Poland were thwarted by the secret police. French film crew faced confiscation of their film footage. Baseless accusations of espionage further complicated matters.
Finally, after a hunger strike and mounting international pressure, Poland relented. Trepper left, eventually settling in Israel. His story embodies espionage, betrayal, and the unwavering will to survive.