A film by Anrzej Wajda, laureate of several dozen prestigious international movie awards including an Oscar from the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as well
as Felix and César awards for lifetime achievements, the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear and the Platinum Lions for lifetime achievement award at the Gdynia Film Festival in 2005.
The first film of the „Polish Film School”. One of the most acclaimed Polish films at international festivals.
An adaptation of Jerzy Stefan Stawinski’s short story.
Captivating performances by young actors – Wieńczysław Gliński, Emil Karewicz, Tadeusz Janczar, Teresa Irzewska, Jan Englert.
Tragic heroism and the unprecedented suffering of a group of Warsaw Uprising freedom fighters who retreat from their positions and must travel through stinking sewers to assist fellow fighters downtown. The sewers are their only refuge but also a trap. Most of the plot take place underground. Only their faces are lit up by beams of light from above, intensifying the unique atmosphere of the film. The claustrophobic mood is deepened by a plethora of morbid sounds.
An expressive film, full of metaphoric images fusing romantic philosophy together with the roots of human heroism.