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This Box set by Criterion contains 3 films by Andrzej Wajda about Poland during World War II
Each covers a different aspect and situation of the war.
The first film, Pokolenie (A Generation) is about a young man living just outside Warsaw who decides to join the resistance. He later meets a beautiful woman who he falls in love with.
The second film, Kanal, is about a group during the Warsaw uprising who attempts to evacuate survivors out of the city through the sewers. I found this one particularly hard to watch as much of the film involves people crawling through untreated sewage. Skip this one if you have a weak stomach.
The third film, Popiól i diament (Ashes and Diamonds), takes just after the German surrender to the allies and the beginning of Soviet rule. The main character is a hired assassin who is assinged to kill one of the new Soviet leaders.
Each film is on its own disc and there are plenty of special features on each disc.
Disc 1 contains the film, A Generation, with behind the scens production photos, an interview with film critic, Jerzy Plazewski and director Andrzej Wajda, and Wajda's student film, Ceramika Ilzecka (Ceramics from Ilza).
Disc 2 contains the film Kanal along with behind the scenes photos, an interview with, Jan Nowak-Jezioranski, a participant in the Warsaw uprising, and an interview with the film's assistant director, Janusz Morgenstern.
Disc 3 contains the film Ashes and Diamonds with optional audio commentary by Annette Insdorf, behind the scenes photos, a 2 minute newsreel on the film's production, and interviews with Janusz Morgenstern and Jerzy Plazewski.
This is an excellent film series for those interested in the German occupation of Poland and I recommend it.
Rating:  [4 of 5 Stars!] |
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