Walesa. Man of Hope
- Poland
- 2013
- 127'
- FPFF’s 50 for 51: Wajda’s Actresses
Following the films ‘Man of Marble’ and ‘Man of Iron,’ the last part in the trilogy is a biopic dedicated to Lech Walesa, encapsulating the events from the December 1970 protests in Poland, the August 1980 strikes, all the way to the legendary address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress on 15th November, 1989. Andrzej Wajda considered the making of the film his moral duty and an attempt to reclaim the reputation of Lech Walesa, tarnished by the unfounded accusations of his former cooperation with the Security Service (secret police). Combined with the previous parts of the trilogy, the film sends a clear message: a bloody revolt is not the path that leads to freedom.
- Directed by: Andrzej Wajda
- Screenplay: Janusz Głowacki
- Photography: Paweł Edelman
- Music: Paweł Mykietyn
- Production Design: Magdalena Dipont
- Costume Design: Magdalena Biedrzycka
- Cast: Robert Więckiewicz, Agnieszka Grochowska, Iwona Bielska, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Maria Rosaria Omaggio
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.
