An orphan with no home.
A professor with no degree.
A father with no choice.

Welcome to the story about Stefan Banach, one of the best mathematicians of the XX century.

Banach Space

“A true genius sees analogies between analogies”

Synopsis

Stefan Banach, one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century, an orphan, rose from humble beginnings as a self-taught genius in the streets of Lviv to revolutionize modern mathematics with his groundbreaking theories.  A professor without a formal degree, Banach’s brilliance earned him global recognition, but as WWII erupts, the world he built begins to unravel.

Determined not to abandon the city and the life he built, Banach stays behind as Nazi and Soviet forces tighten their grip on Lviv. Torn from his academic community and friends, Banach faces impossible choices. His family urges him to leave, but his loyalty to Lviv and his determination to hold on to his dream anchor him to the city. Only when his son becomes entangled in a dangerous situation does Banach decide to act. He sacrifices his own safety, assuming his son’s identity so his family can escape to Cracow.

Banach, now isolated, survives by feeding lice in Weigl’s lab, a far cry from his days of intellectual brilliance. Yet, even as illness and war consume his body, Banach’s mind remains a beacon of resilience. His legacy endures, proving that true genius transcends even the darkest chapters of history.


Banach Space is a story of survival, sacrifice, and the unbreakable pursuit of knowledge, set against the harrowing backdrop of war-torn Europe.

Comparable

Banach Space is a character-driven drama that blends the intellectual intrigue of A Beautiful Mind with the emotional grit of Good Will Hunting, featuring a protagonist like Will—brilliant, self-taught, yet burdened by deep emotional struggles. Set against the somber backdrop of WWII, the film evokes the haunting atmosphere of The Pianist as it follows Banach’s journey through war-torn Lviv.

Stefan Banach

A brilliant mathematician whose true motivation lies not in the pursuit of discovery but in the bonds he forms through his work. For Banach, math is a bridge to camaraderie, laughter, and moments of intellectual exchange with friends and colleagues. His belief that a man’s purpose is to raise a son, build a house, and plant a tree stems from the very things he longed for as a child—roots, stability, and belonging. As WWII casts a shadow over Lviv, Banach’s resolve to stay reflects his deep loyalty to his home and loved ones. However, as war shatters his world, he battles loneliness and the relentless grip of cigarette addiction, a habit his son implores him to abandon. Yet, Banach clings to the hope that his legacy—his family and the mathematics that brought so many together—will endure beyond the war’s devastation. His brilliance is matched only by the profound cost of his loyalty to the people and the city he loves.

Supporting Characters

Family

Lucy Braus

Banach’s devoted wife, Lucy is the anchor of the family, tirelessly supportive despite Banach’s flaws. Her pragmatism and emotional resilience keep the family together, but she is torn between love for her husband and fear for their safety. She represents strength in the face of adversity, always prioritizing the family’s survival.

Stefan Banach Jr.

Banach’s son, a bright young man with a passion for neuroscience, mirrors his father’s intellect but struggles with feeling neglected. Torn between admiration and frustration, he resents Banach’s choices, particularly his stubbornness, but ultimately seeks his father’s approval. Their relationship is strained, but love remains the undercurrent.

Stefan Greczek

Banach’s estranged father, a former Austrian soldier, embodies regret and secrecy. Haunted by his past abandonment, he reconnects with Banach in a bid for redemption, offering protection when danger closes in. He is a stoic figure, distant but emotionally burdened by the weight of his choices.

Friends

Friends are the heart of Banach’s world, sharing his love for mathematics and giving him a sense of belonging in Lviv. They laugh, drink, smoke, challenge each other, and form an intellectual brotherhood. But as war devastates their lives, one by one, his closest allies disappear. Banach clings to hope, refusing to accept the most obvious truth. Their absence haunts him. As Banach fights to protect his work and legacy, his denial reflects the emotional toll of a world falling apart.

Villains

Zychowicz

Zychowicz starts as an eager but hopelessly inept student, desperately craving validation in mathematics. Passing Banach’s class ignites brief hope, but Ruziewicz’s brutal failure crushes him. His shattered dreams fuel deep resentment, and during the war, he seeks vengeance by creating the List, targeting the very professors he once admired. Though he briefly tastes authority, he is ultimately humiliated by Gruber. Post-war, he represents the grim irony of history: the incompetent surviving to wield petty bureaucratic power over the intellectuals they could never match.

Gruber and Topalov

Gruber and Topalov embody the German and Soviet forces occupying Lviv. Gruber is a cold, calculating German Nazi who sees Banach as inferior yet valuable only for his intellect. He embodies the ruthless efficiency of the regime. Topalov, on the other hand, is manipulative, acting as a liberator while oppressing under Soviet rule, using fear and false promises to control Banach and others in Lviv. Together, they represent the two faces of tyranny that Banach must navigate.

Tone and Style

The tone shifts from the warmth and vibrancy of early Lviv to the cold, gray reality of a city devastated by conflict, mirroring Banach’s internal struggle. Visually, the film moves from warm, rich hues to muted tones, enhancing the narrative’s emotional and historical depth.

Script Excerpts

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