Netflix has set a February 11 premiere date for its new Polish original series Lead Children, directed by Maciej Pieprzyca, and has unveiled the first images from the production. The series stars Joanna Kulig, Kinga Preis and Michał Żurawski and is inspired by real events that took place in Silesia in the 1970s.

Lead Children tells the story of a young doctor who challenges the communist system in an effort to save the health of children affected by industrial pollution. The narrative draws on the life of Dr. Jolanta Wadowska-Król, who exposed mass cases of lead poisoning among children living near the Szopienice smelter, as well as on Michał Jędryka’s book of the same title.

Joanna Kulig plays Jolanta Wadowska-Król, portraying a woman driven by honesty, courage and uncompromising determination in her fight against an entrenched system. Kulig said the role required full immersion and emotional intensity, raising the question of whether an ordinary person would have the strength to stand alone against institutional power.

Kinga Preis appears as Wiesia Wilczek, an experienced and tough nurse from Szopienice who initially treats the doctor as an outsider from the city but gradually becomes her closest ally and guide in the world of steelworkers. Agata Kulesza plays Professor Berger, the charismatic and authoritarian head of a pediatric clinic, torn between loyalty to the system, personal interests and her duty to protect children.

Opposing Wadowska-Król are powerful representatives of the state who see the truth about the smelter as a serious threat. Michał Żurawski plays Hubert Niedziela, a Security Service officer tasked with covering up the scandal, while Zbigniew Zamachowski portrays Zdzisław Grudzień, a politician determined to maintain his influence in the region. Marian Dziędziel appears as Jerzy Ziętek, the Silesian voivode conflicted between political interests and concern for the local community.

The series is directed by Maciej Pieprzyca, a native of Upper Silesia known for his long-standing interest in the region’s history. The script was written by Jakub Korolczuk, with cinematography by Witold Płóciennik. The producer is Wiesław Łysakowski, and the series is produced by Orient Film for Netflix.