MAN OF IRON
- 156 min
- Poland
- Retrospective
- 12 years
- 2 Screenings
Maciej is an activist in the anti-communist Solidarity movement. When he leads a strike at a shipyard in Gdańsk, journalist Winkel from the state-controlled press is sent to uncover damaging information about him. As Winkel investigates Maciej’s past, earlier labor protests and his relationship with his father come to light. Gradually, the assignment turns into a moral trial for the journalist himself.
Read moreMan of Iron functions as a loose sequel to Andrzej Wajda’s Man of Marble (1977), which focused on Maciej’s father, yet stands firmly on its own. With powerful performances, raw realism, and a compelling story of ordinary people’s courage, the film is an invaluable portrait of a turbulent period in Polish history. Maciej is clearly inspired by Lech Wałęsa, who also appears in the film as himself.
After the Solidarity movement emerged in 1980, censorship in Poland briefly eased. When the movement was crushed in December 1981, freedom of expression was once again curtailed. Man of Iron was released during this narrow window and is remarkably critical of the communist regime. When censorship tightened again, the film was banned at home – but internationally it received widespread acclaim, winning the Palme d’Or and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
Screenings
| Wednesday 04. march 14.30 | 14.30 | Cinemateket |
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| Saturday 07. march 20.00 | 20.00 | Cinemateket |
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Information
| Original title | CZLOWIEK Z ZELAZA | |
|---|---|---|
| Director | ANDRZEJ WAJDA | |
| Year | 1981 | |
| Length | 156 min | |
| Country | Poland | |
| Language | polish | |
| Subtitles | english | |
| Cast | JERZY RADZIWILOWICZ, KRYSTYNA JANDA, MARIAN OPANIA |
