The Birch Wood
- Poland
- 1970
- 99'
- FPFF’s 50 for 51: Wajda’s Actresses
Stanisław, a tuberculosis patient, comes to visit his elder brother Bolesław. Death looms over their meeting. Although living his last days, Staś wants to enjoy every moment of his fading life. His brother, physically sound, is slowly consumed with grief, after the tragic death of his wife. In this sensual and beautiful adaptation of the short story by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz, we once again observe the forces of Eros and Thanatos become the givers of life’s meaning. The existential dilemmas are set against the background of natural landscapes, with many subtle references to the paintings by Jacek Malczewski.
- Directed by: Andrzej Wajda
- Screenplay: Andrzej Wajda, Tadeusz Konwicki, na podstawie opowiadania Jarosława Iwaszkiewicza
- Photography: Zygmunt Samosiuk
- Music: Andrzej Korzyński
- Cast: Daniel Olbrychski, Olgierd Łukaszewicz, Emilia Krakowska, Marek Perepeczko, Elżbieta Żołek
One of the most brilliant Polish film and theatre directors, one of the originators of Polish Film School. He is the author of such film gems as ‘Kanał / Sewer,’ ‘Popiół i diament / Ashes and Diamonds,’ ‘Człowiek z marmuru / Man of Marble,’ ‘Człowiek z żelaza / Man of Iron,’ or ‘Katyń.’ His films frequently dealt with historic events, memory, and moral dilemmas of individuals, combining artistic cinema with profound social and political commentaries. He received the Honorary Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Palme d’Or Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. 2026 is celebrated as the Year of Andrzej Wajda to commemorate the hundredth birth anniversary of the film director and his outstanding contribution to the history of both Polish and international cinema.
