One of the best things about learning Polish is- the movies!

I’m not much of a movie watcher, but one Polish director managed to keep my attention- that would be Andrzej Wajda.

I’ve seen many of his films and on this list, I’ll write down what I think the best Andrzej Wajda films are (in no particular order)

<span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker" data-verified="redactor"></span>

1. Człowiek z żelaza (L’Homme de fer, Man of Iron)

This follows a disgruntled reporter who is told to dig up dirt on the fictional revolutionary leader- Maciej Tomczyk. Tomczyk, in particular, is such an interesting character, full of passion he could barely control, able to sway crowds, and his father actually had a movie about him. The reporter (Winkel) has a very interesting character arc as well. I really love this movie for characterization. I loved Tomczyk, Agnieszka, and even Winkel. It was also written when Poland was under the Communist regime- which made this film even more shocking as it depicted a revolutionary against the communist regime.

<span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker" data-verified="redactor"></span>

2. Człowiek z Marmaru

This follows Agnieszka, a young filmmaker, who wanted to make a film on Birkut (Tomczyk’s dad) but kept running into dead ends. Nobody seems to want to let her develop this project, but the more obstacles she ran into the more determined she was. I loved her willingness to even put herself in danger just to get the truth out. She was a very well-rounded character full of faults and strengths. Birkut’s story also gets a lot more interesting the more we discover it.

<span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker" data-verified="redactor"></span>

3. Człowiek z Nadziei (L’Homme de la Peuple, Man of Hope)

I love how the French title is “Man of the People” This is about Lech Wałęsa, the real revolutionary leader of the Solidarity Revolution. This was made in 2013, and the final in the “Man of” series. Tomczyk is parallel to Lech. Wałęsa is a fascinating person, but this also captures those around him as well. Lech’s wife Danuta played a major role taking care of eight children and standing up to the communist guards. She didn’t like the spotlight but was a hero. Wałęsa went through many rejections in his life, yet managed to keep speaking up for his convictions. He went through many challenges, and with the help of other leaders in Solidarity- Poland became a free nation.

<span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker" data-verified="redactor"></span>

4. Katyn

This movie I saw in Polish with French subtitles and I was in tears! So as the title suggests, this was about the Katyn massacre in World War II. Wajda’s own father was killed in the massacre, and this film is a beautiful tribute to him in a sense. This film follows several families and they are all connected through Katyn and the tragedy. This is an emotion-packed film that follows Poland in the depths of World War II. There are characters you will love, and characters you will hate. It is a very raw film about personal lives, although many of the characters are fictional- the events are real. It follows families worrying about their loved ones before discovering the massacre. The most powerful moment for me was the ending- but no spoilers.

5. Powidoki (Afterimage)

the last movie he made. This follows an art professor during Stalin’s regime. This professor wants to express art in his own way and has his own methods of teaching students. Consequently, the regime hates him. This is dismissed from the university, but students still come to his house to take lessons. Against all odds, he is determined to make art the way he wants.

6. Danton

This one is in French. It follows the political struggles of the Jacobins during the French Revolution. Divided between Robespierre and Saint-Just, and Danton and Desmoulins- the French Revolution has two directions to take. One a more “virtuous” idealistic direction, and the other more “practical.” Men who were once all on the same side, find themselves, political enemies.

<span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker" data-verified="redactor"></span><span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker" data-verified="redactor"></span>

7. Brzezina

This was about a man suffering from tuberculosis who came to live with his older brother. The older brother is more of a pessimist but also more world-wise. The younger brother was carefree and optimistic, but also very naïve. I loved the dynamics at play!

8. Kanal and Ashes and Diamonds

These are a couple of Wajda’s earliest films. I couldn’t follow them as well as the newer ones but they were still good. Both of them were about the Polish Resistance and captured some interesting stories.