The Polish Institute New Delhi, in collaboration with the Embassy of Ukraine in India and the British Council India, announces the screening of the Polish-Ukrainian-British thriller biographical film ‘Mr. Jones,’ directed by the acclaimed Academy Award nominee Agnieszka Holland.
“We are excited to present the screening of ‘Mr. Jones,’ directed by Agnieszka Holland, which tells the story of a Welsh journalist uncovering a Soviet conspiracy. This event, held in collaboration with the Ukrainian Embassy and the British Council, underscores the historical events that inspired George Orwell’s Animal Farm,” explains Magdalena Filipczuk, Acting Director of the Polish Institute New Delhi.
The screening will take place on 13th June 2024 at 7 pm at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
About the Movie
“Mr. Jones” is an extraordinary untold story brought to the screen by director Agnieszka Holland. Set in 1933, the film follows the journey of Gareth Jones, an ambitious young Welsh journalist who gained fame for being the first foreign journalist to fly with Hitler. At the time, Jones was working as an advisor to Lloyd George, and his curiosity about the Soviet “utopia,” which was widely reported in the news, led him to seek his next big story: how Stalin was financing the rapid modernization of the Soviet Union.
Jones leaves his government role and travels to Moscow in an attempt to secure an interview with Stalin. There, he meets Ada Brooks, a British journalist who unveils the violent repression of the regime’s truths. Driven by murmurs of a government-induced famine, Jones manages to travel clandestinely to Ukraine, where he witnesses the horrors of man-made starvation, with millions left to starve as all grain is sold abroad to fund the industrializing Soviet empire.
After being deported back to London, Jones publishes an article revealing the atrocities he witnessed. However, the starvation is denied by Western journalists reporting from Moscow, including Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Walter Duranty, all under the Kremlin’s pressure. As death threats mount, Jones fights to bring the truth to light. His findings and struggles eventually inspire George Orwell to write the great allegorical novel “Animal Farm.”
Event Details
– Date: 13th June 2024
– Time: 7:00 PM
– Venue: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
The screening of “Mr. Jones” offers a significant opportunity to reflect on the historical and political contexts of the 1930s, shedding light on the critical role of journalism in uncovering truth amidst repression. This event is a part of the organizers’ continuous efforts to foster cultural and historical awareness through cinematic experiences.
