In 1945, as Stalin sets his hands over Poland, famous painter Wladislaw Strzeminski refuses to compromise on his art with the doctrines of social realism. Persecuted, expelled from his chair at the University, he's eventually erased from the museums' walls. With the help of some of his students, he starts fighting against the Party and becomes the symbol of an artistic resistance against intellectual tyranny.
Acting
Bogusław Linda's trembling fury as Strzemiński.
Direction
Wajda's final film—a vengeful master's goodbye.
Cinematography
Compositions that honor Strzemiński's unism theory.
Director
Andrzej Wajda
Bogusław Linda
Władysław Strzemiński
Bronisława Zamachowska
Nika Strzemińska
Zofia Wichłacz
Hania
Aleksandra Justa
Katarzyna Kobro
Krzysztof Pieczyński
Julian Przyboś
Mariusz Bonaszewski
Madejski
Rafał Zawierucha
Shop Assistant
Jacek Beler
Filip Gurłacz
Konrad
Aleksander Fabisiak
Rajner
Paulina Gałązka
Wasinska
Irena Melcer
Jadzia
Mateusz Rzeźniczak
Mateusz
Tomasz Włosok
Roman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Andrzej Wajda died months after completing this; he was 90 and had fought Soviet censorship his entire career.
Strzemiński's actual 'unism' canvases were hidden in Lodz for decades; this film helped restore him to Polish museums.
PL
