A dying colonel's medal hunt turns into Poland's most quietly devastating road movie.
A retired army colonel learns that years ago, during the 1939 September Campaign he was ordered to give medals to the ten bravest soldiers in his company. He asks his son to help him out, so he sets out on a journey to find surviving soldiers and judge if they are worthy of the honor.
Acting
Jan Ciecierski's weathered face does the heavy lifting.
Direction
Waśkowski turns Polish landscapes into elegy.
Writing
Dialogue that lands like a stone thrown into silence.
Director
Mieczysław Waśkowski
Henryk Bąk
Chief Doctor
Jan Ciecierski
Gamekeeper
Zofia Czerwińska
Zofia, Michał's Daughter
Halina Golanko
Dr. Krystyna
Lech Grzmociński
Patro
Juliusz Kalinowski
Patient
Maria Klejdysz
Zofia, Klejdysz's Wife
Wacław Kowalski
Sgt. Bronisław Misztal
Jan Kreczmar
Col. Józef Królikiewicz
Krystyna Królówna
Nurse
Edward Kusztal
Cpl. Zygmunt Hołda
Sławomir Lindner
Master Sgt. Jan Ligenza
Mieczysław Łoza
Pvt. Grudzień
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during the brief thaw of 1970-71 Polish cinema, it sneaks bitter commentary about communist-era heroism past censors through its 1939 setting.
The film's title comes from a famous Polish poem about fading memory — director Waśkowski fought to keep it against studio pressure for something more 'patriotic.'
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
PL
