Cardinal plays self in Popieluszko film

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WARSAW, Poland, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Cardinal Jozef Glemp, the head of Poland's Roman Catholics, is set to play himself in a movie about slain priest Jerzy Popieluszko, the Independent reported.

Popieluszko was an outspoken critic killed in October 1984 by the Communist security services. He was gagged, beaten and thrown in the river Vistula.

Glemp, now 77, was already Poland's primate when Popieluszko died at the age of 37. He delivered a eulogy to 250,000 mourners when Popieluszko was buried at his parish church.

"We have already filmed the scenes with the primate. Cardinal Glemp is a natural when he's in front of the camera," said Julita Swiercz-Wieczynska, head of Focus Producers, the company making "Popieluszko," which is set for release next year.

"He's also been a consultant, sharing his memories with us. We're making a historical film and we want to get as close as possible to reality."

Glemp appears in scenes where he re-enacts actual conversations he had with Popieluszko.

Popieluszko's killing sparked a public outcry and three police agents were tried for his death and sentenced in 1985 to between 14 and 25 years in jail. They were freed early under an amnesty plan, the Independent said.