Less of a Stranger (Polish title: Mniej obcy) is a Netflix original drama inspired by the life and memories of Polish rock guitarist Jan Borysewicz, the leader of Lady Pank. Mikołaj Bukrewicz, a real-life guitarist and composer, stars as Borysewicz, with Kinga Preis and Ireneusz Czop as his parents.
Mirosław Tomczuk plays the young Borysewicz. Hubert Miłkowski, Krzysztof Oleksyn, Mikołaj Matczak, and Marcel Barra play the other Lady Pank members.
Music drives the story from the first scene. Netflix calls the film a music-driven portrait, and it features the biggest hits of Lady Pank.
The credits divide the music between two names. Jan Borysewicz receives the music credit, while Karim Martusewicz composed the original score.
The film premieres in the Main Competition at the 51st Polish Film Festival in Gdynia (September 21–26, 2026). It then streams worldwide on Netflix on October 7, 2026.
Less of a Stranger Soundtrack Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Film Title | Less of a Stranger (Polish title: Mniej obcy) |
| Director | Kristoffer Rus |
| Screenwriters | Wiktor Piątkowski, Joanna Kozłowska |
| Production Company | Paprika Studios |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Netflix Release Date | October 7, 2026 |
| Festival Premiere | 51st Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, Main Competition (September 21–26, 2026) |
| Music By | Jan Borysewicz |
| Score Composer | Karim Martusewicz |
| Genre | Biographical music drama |
| Language | Polish |
| Netflix Rating | TV-MA |
Less of a Stranger Soundtrack Overview
The music of Less of a Stranger works on two layers: the songs that made Lady Pank famous and an original score written for the film. Together they follow Borysewicz from a young guitarist fascinated by rock to the leader of a hugely popular band.
The story opens in 1983, when police interrupt a Lady Pank concert. It then moves through the 1980s and 1990s, when rock music was a language of freedom and resistance in Poland.
Netflix’s synopsis follows a rebellious guitarist whose early love of rock drives him to build a band that could rival his idols. Success arrives fast, but it brings personal loss, family trauma, excess, and clashes with authority.
Director Kristoffer Rus, a Polish-Swedish filmmaker, describes the film as the story of a musician for whom rock and roll meant freedom and the right to live by his own rules. Borysewicz has said he wanted an honest film that hides neither his successes nor his mistakes.
Paprika Studios produced the film, which debuts on Netflix on October 7, 2026.
Who Composed Less of a Stranger Soundtrack?
Jan Borysewicz (Music)
Jan Borysewicz was born on April 17, 1955, in Wrocław. He is a guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of Lady Pank, and he composed all but two of the band’s songs.
In the 1970s, he played with Izabela Trojanowska and Budka Suflera. Lady Pank’s self-titled debut album arrived on June 20, 1983, and ranks among the most important records in Polish rock.
His solo and collaborative albums include Królowa ciszy (1988), Miya (2010), and Borysewicz & Kukiz (2003), the last of which went gold in Poland.
Karim Martusewicz (Original Score)
Karim Martusewicz is a composer, bassist, and arranger, and a full member of the ZAiKS authors’ society. He studied jazz double bass at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria.
He has played with the band Voo Voo since 1998 and won a Fryderyk award with the group in 2015. In 2007, he launched his own collective, Karimski Club.
He has scored several projects for director Kristoffer Rus, including Too Old for Fairy Tales (Za duży na bajki), its sequel, and the series The Elements of Sasza (Żywioły Saszy).
Less of a Stranger Lady Pank Songs
Netflix confirms that Less of a Stranger includes the biggest hits of Lady Pank, the songs that carried the band through the 1980s and beyond.
Polish music coverage of the film points to “Mniej niż zero”, “Kryzysowa narzeczona”, “Marchewkowe pole”, and “Zawsze tam, gdzie ty” as the kind of songs viewers can expect.
Other well-known songs from the band’s catalog include “Tańcz, głupia, tańcz”, “Wciąż bardziej obcy”, “Zamki na piasku”, “Tacy sami”, and “Mała Lady Punk”, the band’s first hit.
In 1985, MTV added the video for “Minus Zero”, the English-language version of “Mniej niż zero”, to its rotation in the United States.
Karim Martusewicz Film and TV Credits
| Title | Director | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Too Old for Fairy Tales (Za duży na bajki) | Kristoffer Rus | Music; soundtrack album released in 2024 |
| Too Old for Fairy Tales 2 (Za duży na bajki 2) | Kristoffer Rus | Music; soundtrack album released in 2024 |
| The Elements of Sasza (Żywioły Saszy), TVN series | Kristoffer Rus | Music |
| Lepsza połowa, TVP2 series | Kristoffer Rus, Artur Żmijewski | Music |
| Krępujące zdjęcia z rodzinnego albumu (2018) | Paweł Nowak | Music |
| Okna, okna (2018) | Wojciech Solarz | Music (selected excerpts) |
| Król życia (2015) | Jerzy Zieliński | Music and title song |
| Powstanie Warszawskie (2014) | Jan Komasa | Co-wrote the song “Tyle nadziei, tyle miłości” |
Where to Listen Less of a Stranger Soundtrack?
Less of a Stranger streams exclusively on Netflix starting October 7, 2026, so the film’s music plays in full context there. To revisit the songs behind the story, Lady Pank‘s catalog is on Apple Music, including the debut album Lady Pank (1983), Tacy sami (1988), and LP 40 (2021).
FAQs
Who composed the music for Less of a Stranger?
Jan Borysewicz, the Lady Pank guitarist, receives the film’s music credit. Karim Martusewicz composed the original score.
What is Less of a Stranger about?
The film is inspired by the life and memories of Jan Borysewicz. It follows his rise to the top of Polish rock with Lady Pank and the personal cost of that success.
When does Less of a Stranger premiere on Netflix?
The film arrives on Netflix on October 7, 2026. It first screens at the 51st Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, held September 21–26, 2026.
Does Less of a Stranger feature Lady Pank songs?
Yes. Netflix says the film includes the biggest hits of Lady Pank, the band Borysewicz co-founded and led.
What does the Polish title Mniej obcy mean?
Mniej obcy is the Polish title of the film. It translates to Less of a Stranger.
Who directed Less of a Stranger?
Kristoffer Rus directed and produced the film. Paprika Studios handled the production.
Where can I stream the music from Less of a Stranger?
Watch the film on Netflix to hear the music in context. Lady Pank‘s albums, including Lady Pank (1983) and Tacy sami (1988), are available on Apple Music.
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