Katyn
Andrzej Wajda's film Katyn is brilliant, beautiful and brutal. And it is based on facts that many people are not aware of.
Back in 1940 some 15,000 to 20,000 Polish soldiers were killed by the Soviet army in the Katyn forest. Many of these men were intellectuals, doctors, lawyers, etc. This was done under the orders of Stalin who thought that these were the people who would opposed his brand of Communism (which was as bad as the Fascism he was fighting). But the Russians wanted to pin the blame on the Germans and were successful for a time. But there were many who knew the truth all along.
There are several threads and stories in the film. One is about a woman named Anna (Maja Ostaszewska) who is waiting for her husband Andrzej (Artur Zmijewski). What is most heartbreaking is the way their young daughter is waiting for her father. There are a number of other examples of people who knew the truth and were not afraid to say so. Besides being a great history lesson the film also plays out as a thriller. The two hours goes by very quickly.
Wajda does an amazing job of bringing this story alive. And it is no wonder - his father was one of those murdered. He has been waiting a long time to tell this tale.
The acting by everyone is very good. And Pawel Edelman's cinematography is stunning.
After decades of hiding the truth, Mikhail Gorbachev admitted that his nation was responsible for these atrocities.
Katyn was nominated for a foreign film Oscar last year and it certainly deserved it. It is now in limited release in the US. If you can't find it in your local cinema make sure that you rent it. It is not only an important film but a masterful one as well.
Back in 1940 some 15,000 to 20,000 Polish soldiers were killed by the Soviet army in the Katyn forest. Many of these men were intellectuals, doctors, lawyers, etc. This was done under the orders of Stalin who thought that these were the people who would opposed his brand of Communism (which was as bad as the Fascism he was fighting). But the Russians wanted to pin the blame on the Germans and were successful for a time. But there were many who knew the truth all along.
There are several threads and stories in the film. One is about a woman named Anna (Maja Ostaszewska) who is waiting for her husband Andrzej (Artur Zmijewski). What is most heartbreaking is the way their young daughter is waiting for her father. There are a number of other examples of people who knew the truth and were not afraid to say so. Besides being a great history lesson the film also plays out as a thriller. The two hours goes by very quickly.
Wajda does an amazing job of bringing this story alive. And it is no wonder - his father was one of those murdered. He has been waiting a long time to tell this tale.
The acting by everyone is very good. And Pawel Edelman's cinematography is stunning.
After decades of hiding the truth, Mikhail Gorbachev admitted that his nation was responsible for these atrocities.
Katyn was nominated for a foreign film Oscar last year and it certainly deserved it. It is now in limited release in the US. If you can't find it in your local cinema make sure that you rent it. It is not only an important film but a masterful one as well.
posted by Film Fanatic | 7:21 PM
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