Set at the turn of the century, the story concerns a Polish poet living in Cracow who has decided to marry a peasant girl. The wedding is attended by a heterogenous group of people from all strata of Polish society, who dance, get drunk and lament Poland's 100-year-long division under Russia, Prussia, and Austria. The bridegroom, a painter friend, and a journalist each in turn is confronted with spectres of Polish past.
Direction
Wajda stages collective delirium like nobody else.
Production
The wedding set becomes a pressure cooker of national angst.
Acting
Ensemble cast navigates drunken realism and spectral hallucination.
Director
Andrzej Wajda
Marek Walczewski
Host
Izabela Olszewska
Hostess
Ewa Ziętek
Bride
Daniel Olbrychski
Bridegroom
Emilia Krakowska
Marysia
Mieczysław Stoor
Wojtek
Kazimierz Opaliński
Father
Henryk Borowski
Old Man
Marek Perepeczko
Jasiek
Janusz Bukowski
Kasper
Andrzej Łapicki
Poet
Wojciech Pszoniak
Journalist / Stanczyk
Andrzej Szczepkowski
Nose
Mieczysław Czechowicz
Priest
Barbara Wrzesińska
Maryna
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Stanisław Wyspiański's 1901 play, considered the 'Polish national drama' — imagine if Americans treated Our Town like sacred scripture but with more alcohol and trauma.
Wajda filmed during a brief thaw in communist censorship; the film's critique of partitioned Poland was secretly read as commentary on Soviet domination. Audiences wept. Authorities side-eyed.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
PL
