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Walesa: Man of Hope
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = Walesa: Man of Hope
| image = Wasa filmmaking (1).JPG
| alt =
| caption = Robert Wickiewicz as Lech Wasa
| director = Andrzej Wajda
| producer = Micha Kwieciski
| screenplay = Janusz Gowacki
| story = Janusz Gowacki
| starring = Robert Wickiewicz
Agnieszka Grochowska
| music = Pawe Mykietyn
| cinematography = Pawe Edelman
| editing = Milenia Fiedler
| studio = Akson Studio
Canal +
| distributor =
| released =
| runtime =
| country = Poland
| language = Polish
| budget = 3.5 million
| gross =
}}
'Walesa: Man of Hope' ( ) is a 2013 Polish biopic film directed by Andrzej Wajda, starring Robert Wickiewicz as Lech Wasa. Wajda stated at Krakw's Off Plus Camera Film Festival in April 2012 that he foresaw trouble following the film's release. The film was selected as the Polish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.
Synopsis
Wasa, an electrician at the Gdask Shipyards, participated in local demonstrations during the 1970s. Following the bloody aftermath, which remains with Wasa, he concentrates on his day-to-day duties. Ten years later, a new uprising occurs and he becomes an unexpected and charismatic leader of Polish dockworkers.
Wasa's leadership role signified the beginning of a new movement that successfully overcame the communist regime of the period, and Wasa is pushed into representing the majority of Poland's population. The Soviet Union, previously regarded as too powerful to confront, eventually grants the movement a degree of acceptance. The Polish example of solidarity then caused a domino effect throughout Eastern Europe: people in Eastern Germany followed the Polish example, starting demonstrations for freedom that achieved the German reunification peacefully. The Soviet Union then dissolved alongside Yugoslavia.
While Europe is reshaped, Poland remains stable and peaceful. Yet a huge variety of political parties unfolds and Poland is on the brink of becoming as ungovernable as the late Weimar Republic. Wasa is subsequently elected as the first president of the new Polish democracy; but, this is followed by feelings of resentment among the Polish people who start to think that Wasa is becoming privileged. Consequently, the Polish people start to seek out ways to diminish Wasa's significance, until they finally accomplish their goal through uncovering actions from a past period.
Background
In April 2011, Wajda said to 'The Guardian' that he intended to make a film to "shine new light on Lech Wasa", while author Janusz Gowacki said the film "is not just going to be romanticism. There will be irony, too. Don't worry." Wajda also declared at a press conference that the Nobel laureate and former president of Poland had condoned the project.
Wajda stated that he considered the film the most difficult professional challenge of his filmmaking career thus far. However, he showed a realisation of the categorical imperative and quoted the famous slogan of Wasa, a personal friend: "'Nie chc, ale musz'" ("I dont want to, but I have to").
Monica Bellucci was considered for the role of Oriana Fallaci, but Maria Rosaria Omaggio was finally selected.
Cast
*Robert Wickiewicz as Lech Wasa
*Agnieszka Grochowska as Danuta Wasa
*Zbigniew Zamachowski as Nawilak
*Maria Rosaria Omaggio as Oriana Fallaci
*Cezary Kosiski as Majchrzak
*Mirosaw Baka as Klemens Gniech
*Iwona Bielska as Ilona, Wasa's neighbour
*Maciej Stuhr as Priest
*Magorzata Zajczkowska as Shop assistant
*Marcin Hycnar as KOR member Rysiek
*Dorota Wellman as Henryka Krzywonos
*Adam Woronowicz as Tadeusz Fiszbach
*Marcin Perchu as Instruktor
*Ewa Kuryo as Anna Walentynowicz
*Arkadiusz Detmer as Malinowski
*Mateusz Kociukiewicz as Krzysiek
*Piotr Probosz as Mijak
*Jerzy Nasierowski as Mijak's grandpa
*Ewa Kolasiska as Shipyard worker
*Micha Czernecki
*Remigiusz Jankowski as Shipyard worker
*Wojciech Kalarus as Chairman
*Maciej Marczewski as KOR member
*Maciej Konopiski as SB agent
*Marcel Gogowski as Bogdan Wasa (aged 810)
*Wiktor Malinowski as Jarosaw Wasa (aged 35)
*Kamil Jaworski as Przemysaw Wasa (aged 57)
*Jakub widerski as Ludwik Prdzyski
*Bogusaw Kudek as Bogdan Borusewicz
*Micha Meyer as Jerzy Borowczak
*Grzegorz Maecki as UB agent
*Ewa Konstancja Buhak as Customs official
*Damian Jagusz as soldier
Production
Wajda announced his intention to blend real contemporary news material with the fictional content of the film to "give testimony to the truth". The contemporary footage was adapted by superimposing the face of Robert Wickiewicz on Wasa's real face. The re-enacted scenes were shot "on location in Gdask, including in the historic shipyard and its surroundings, as well as in Warsaw". As Wajda told the 'Chicago Tribune', the 'raison d'tre' of his work was not to entertain the Western world, but to disclose the historic truth for a Polish audience.
Gowacki assured journalists that his script was not meant to be an apotheosis, but instead showed Wasa "as a man of flesh and blood, a leader of great strength but also someone who has his weaknesses". The screenwriter was significantly affected upon discovering that Wajda sought to pursue the same approach and consequently "thought it would be an interesting project".
In August 2012, a company known to financial experts as "Amber Gold" was considered as an investor for this film; but, when the company was investigated, it withdrew from the production process.
Release
The film was on the program of the 2014 edition of Thailand's EU Film Festival, shown in the cities of Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Alongside films such as the Spanish feature 'The Pelayos', the film was one of seven films that were shown in all three cities.
See also
* Notable film portrayals of Nobel laureates
* List of submissions to the 86th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
* List of Polish submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
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