Directed by DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman, The Peasants (Polish: Chłopi) is a hand-painted animated historical drama adapting Nobel Prize-winning author Władysław Reymont’s novel of the same name. It’s the follow-up to the Welchmans’ 2018 hit Loving Vincent, using the same oil-painting animation technique — over 200 artists hand-painted more than 40,000 frames for the film.
The film follows Jagna, a determined young woman living in a late-19th-century Polish village — a community bound together, rich and poor, by pride in the land, colorful tradition, and deep-rooted patriarchy, and torn apart by ongoing gossip and feuds. The Peasants premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, opened in Poland on October 13, 2023 (where it became the highest-grossing Polish animated film ever released domestically), and opened in U.S. theaters via Sony Pictures Classics on January 26, 2024.
Quick Facts
| Film | The Peasants (Chłopi) |
| Directors | DK Welchman & Hugh Welchman |
| Based on | Władysław Reymont’s novel Chłopi |
| Poland Release | October 13, 2023 |
| US Release | January 26, 2024 (Sony Pictures Classics) |
| Composer | Łukasz "L.U.C." Rostkowski |
| Performed by | Rebel Babel Film Orchestra |
| Soundtrack Release | October 27, 2023 (Milan Records) |
Who Composed The Peasants Soundtrack?
Łukasz "L.U.C." Rostkowski is an award-winning Polish composer, producer, and vocalist. He drew on the film’s Polish roots, using rare Slavic folk instruments such as Belarusian bagpipes, and assembled a transcultural line-up — including a Ukrainian Refugee Choir — for his big-band ensemble, the Rebel Babel Film Orchestra, to record the score. Rostkowski has worked with figures including Krzysztof Penderecki, Leszek Możdżer, and Katie Melua, and his earlier work "Sleepoholic" was used by Oscar-winning filmmakers Emmanuel Lubezki and Alejandro Iñárritu for their VR project Carne y Arena.
For the U.S. theatrical release, British-Georgian singer Katie Melua recorded a new English-language version of the album’s closing track, "End of Summer," released as a single in February 2024.
Every Song (Full Tracklist)
All tracks are from The Peasants (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by L.U.C. & Rebel Babel Film Orchestra, released October 27, 2023 on Milan Records (24 tracks, 58 minutes):
- Indian Summer (3:24)
- Cut-outs & Herbs (1:21)
- Market Day (3:12)
- Autumn Rains (1:56)
- Jagna (1:47)
- Bride Price (0:51)
- Fights (1:25)
- Bridesmaids’ Song (2:57)
- Wedding Mazurka (1:53)
- Autumn Dance (4:40)
- Winter Sun (4:59)
- Polka (0:53)
- Wole Wolta (1:31)
- Devil Dance (2:40)
- Battle (3:45)
- Thaw (1:01)
- Greed (2:12)
- Spring Equinox (3:12)
- Hallelujah (1:19)
- Death (2:45)
- Antek (1:31)
- Hate (2:34)
- Catharsis (2:13)
- End of Summer (4:10)
Where to Stream
The full soundtrack is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud.
Cast
- Kamila Urzędowska as Jagna
- Mirosław Baka
- Robert Gulaczyk
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed The Peasants soundtrack?
Łukasz "L.U.C." Rostkowski composed the score, performed by his Rebel Babel Film Orchestra.
When was The Peasants soundtrack released?
The album released October 27, 2023 on Milan Records, alongside the film’s Polish theatrical debut.
Does Katie Melua appear on The Peasants soundtrack?
Yes — she recorded an English-language version of the closing track "End of Summer," released as a single for the film’s U.S. theatrical run.
When did The Peasants release in the US?
Sony Pictures Classics released it in U.S. theaters on January 26, 2024, roughly three months after its Polish debut.
What animation technique was used for The Peasants?
Every frame was hand-painted in oils by a team of over 200 artists — the same technique the Welchmans pioneered on Loving Vincent.
Related reading: Movie Soundtrack hub | Streaming hub | Apple Music
Source: Film Music Reporter, Film Music Site