An adventure film for children, which, under the cover of simple and funny plot, hides timeless didactic advantages and carries a powerful anti-war message.
The film is based on the novel of Józef Hen, one of the greatest Polish writers of the post-war era. The book “Bitwa o Kozi Dwór” includes autobiographical elements but also references to the masterpiece of children’s literature “The Paul Street Boys” by Ferenc Molnár.
Warsaw, the year 1934. A group of children from Żytnia street are fascinated by football. At a high cost, they manage to rent a real football for a week. Unfortunately, the only place, where a game could be played – an empty square called Kozi Dwór – has been taken by a team of boys from Obozowa street. The clash between the competing groups turns into an open war – both sides arm themselves, think of traps, take hostages … Escalation of the conflict prevents them from having fun. Eventually “Żytniacy” and “Obozowiacy” decide to make peace to jointly face their enemy: a football team from high school. During a feverish match there is a foul. A conflict over a penalty shot becomes a pretext for another clash, which also players’ parents get involved in. All of them reconcile only when they see a cavalry unit passing by, which enthralls the children yet at the same time portends a real war…
The action of the film is set in Warsaw, however scenes in the open air were shot in the Lodz Baluty district.
Excerpt from the movie
