Directed by Maciej J. Drygas • Documentary • 2010 • 58 minutes

Violated Letters explores the hidden inner life of socialist Poland through personal correspondence intercepted by the state’s security apparatus. Between 1945 and 1989, specialized units of Poland’s secret police read, cataloged, and reported on millions of private letters — letters written by ordinary people about daily life, love, anger, fear, ambition, and resistance. The film brings these intimate texts back to life through careful readings over archival footage from the era, offering a human-centered portrait of life under authoritarian control. By framing these lost voices against the broader sweep of Cold War history and cultural change, the documentary reveals both the personal and political dimensions of a society under surveillance.