Black Metal Gets Serious Treatment in ‘Wolves’ – and Star Frontman in ‘Corpus Christi’s’ Bartosz Bielenia

For his debut feature "Wolves," director Jonas Ulrich pursued cinematic realism with an unorthodox approach: he formed a genuine black metal band named WLVS. This wasn't a mere performance troupe; the group, starring actor Bartosz Bielenia, composed a full-length album, developed a live set, and the entire film schedule was built around their actual club performances. Ulrich, a lifelong metal enthusiast with a background in booking underground acts, was adamant about avoiding the clichéd rock star caricatures of the 80s. He states, "Filming real concerts was the only path to authenticity. My aim was for any musician in the audience to immediately connect with the raw emotion on screen."

The film's plot follows Luana, played by Selma Kopp, as she joins her cousin's black metal band on tour and becomes entangled in a complex romance with its enigmatic vocalist, Wiktor (Bielenia). However, Wiktor's ideological convictions prove to be dangerously extreme. Ulrich, who was born in Zurich, consciously framed the story through a female perspective to dissect the power dynamics within a notoriously male-dominated subculture. "This female lens is particularly crucial in the context of black metal," the director notes. "I sought to capture the experience of being a woman navigating that space, where personal bonds are constantly tested. Our objective was always to present a nuanced portrait, highlighting both the alluring and the alarming facets of this world."

A key factor in the film's raw energy was its innovative casting process. Ulrich began scouting for his cast even before the screenplay was finalized, seeking individuals with compelling, layered personalities. He deliberately blended professional actors with real musicians to cultivate a believable on-screen chemistry. For newcomer Selma Kopp, the role was a deep dive into uncharted territory. "The main draw for me was the chance to use acting as a tool to investigate different lifestyles and subcultures, which is a personal passion," she explains. Kopp also shared that creating detailed playlists for her character is an essential part of her method for unlocking a role's emotional landscape.

Bartosz Bielenia, a distinguished stage actor soon to be seen in the forthcoming film "The Time That Never Came," describes his character Wiktor as a profoundly damaged individual molded by severe isolation. "He is rootless, like a tree adrift. His only true anchor is his own fractured self," Bielenia reflects, adding that Wiktor "clings to relationships for validation" and often engages in manipulation, though he isn't completely incapable of real affection. The actor also discussed the complexities of depicting radicalism, emphasizing the care required in today's socio-political environment. "Given the alarming normalization of fascist symbolism, even within corporate spheres, we approached such depictions with extreme caution, using them only when narratively imperative. Yet, I feel it's important to show how susceptible people can be to the allure of extremist ideologies," Bielenia remarked. This sentiment is increasingly echoed by cultural critics who point to a worrying trend of once-marginal ideas gaining mainstream traction.

Ultimately, Ulrich emphasizes that while the music provides a potent atmosphere, "Wolves" is at its heart a universal human drama. He cites films like Anton Corbijn's "Control"—a biopic of Joy Division's iconic frontman Ian Curtis—and Darius Marder's "Sound of Metal" as inspirations, observing that their core stories would remain powerful even stripped of their musical contexts. "Fundamentally, the film transcends its setting; it's not a story about a band," Ulrich concludes. The project, which recently debuted its first trailer and held its world premiere at the Zurich Film Festival, is represented internationally by Yellow Affair and produced by Dynamic Frame GmbH, offering a unique blend of intense drama and authentic, live musical performance.