The Last Witness

The Last Witness is a 2018 thriller directed by Piotr Szkopiak and stars Alex Pettyfer, Robert Wieckiewicz, and Talulah Riley, among a talented roster of actors. This atmospheric period film borrows pages from the annals of overlooked history, merging facts with fiction to create a highly emotive and politically charged narrative.

Alex Pettyfer plays a young, ambitious journalist, Stephen Underwood, based in London in the aftermath of the Second World War. Underwood is primarily concerned with national and international politics, though most of his assignments only revolve around local stories. He yearns for a break-through case that could propel his career. His fortunes take an unexpected turn when he stumbles upon a suspicious suicide case - a displaced Polish military officer. Driven by his relentless pursuit of the truth, he sees the potential for a bigger story in the tragedy.

Eager to uncover more about the circumstances surrounding the soldier’s death, Underwood embarks on a dogged investigation which leads him into a world of ambiguity and cover-ups. The trail paves the way to interactions with prominent political figures, Polish émigrés, and the British intelligence service. He also develops a romantic connection with Jeanette Mitchell, played by Talulah Riley, a government officer who is somehow intertwined in the unfolding narrative.

Robert Wieckiewicz features as Michael Loboda, a hardened survivor of war atrocities with critical knowledge about a tragic event in Poland’s history. Their encounters provide an insight into clandestine operations that have been systematically swept under the carpet. The deeper Underwood digs, the more he realises that he’s scratching at a scar that several parties would prefer to remain concealed.

Shot with a cool, distinct palette by cinematographer Edward Ames, the film’s overall aesthetics contribute to the slow burn feel of the narrative paying homage to classic thrillers. The director successfully utilises the visual medium to his advantage to create an undercurrent of melancholy and uneasiness that resonates throughout the film.

As he becomes heavily embroiled in his investigation, Underwood begins to realise the magnitude of what he is dealing with. The situation rapidly evolves into a substantial political controversy which could cause substantial shock waves on both a national and international level. His relentless pursuit of the truth does not come without repercussions, and he soon faces the threat of escalating peril to both himself and those around him.

Meanwhile, the character arc of Alex Pettyfer’s Stephen Underwood is particularly compelling. Starting as a determined local journalist seeking the big story, Underwood becomes a tormented soul as he uncovers a chilling conspiracy. His transition into an investigative journalist willing to risk everything for justice becomes the crux of the narrative, providing a compelling anchor for the audience’s engagement.

The Last Witness is a film steeped in real-world bitterness, utilising the power of cinema to shed light on horrifying events that were deliberately concealed. It asks poignant questions about how history is recorded, who gets to control the narrative, and the lengths to which governments can go to suppress inconvenient truths. As audiences ride the crest of the suspense-filled narrative wave, they are concurrently compelled to contemplate these profoundly disconcerting aspects of real-world politics.

Overall, Piotr Szkopiak’s The Last Witness is a potent fusion of engaging storytelling filled with moments of suspenseful intrigue, resilient performances, and riveting historical context. Defying genre conventions of a mere historical thriller, the film plunges audiences into a hideously murky chapter of history that was forcibly suppressed for reasons of political expediency. Packed with indispensable performances and a hauntingly shocking plot, it is a film that does more than entertain; it is a solemn reminder of a forgotten genocide that demands remembrance and recognition.