Eroica

Andrzej Munk's Eroica, a Heroic Symphony in two parts and a masterpiece of the Polish Film School, puts a realist lens to the romantic idea of heroism. Based on a script by Jerzy Stefan Stawinski, Eroica draws on its author's first-hand experience as a soldier in the September campaign against the invading German army in 1939. Imprisoned in a POW camp, Stawinski escaped, participated in the Warsaw Uprising, and upon its failure was returned to another POW camp. Eroica displays the futility of the armed struggle against both Germany and Russia, while exposing the idea of heroic suffering as preposterous. In the film, World War II-era Poland is under Nazi occupation. Two stories offer ambiguous images of war: the absurd life of an average bon-vivant who, against his better judgment, participates in the combat; and righteous Polish officers incarcerated in a German camp. Is there any place for glory in the perilous time of war?

Accolades

1958 Mar del Plata Film Festival – FIPRESCI Prize – winner.

Cast & Crew

Written by Jerzy Stefan Stawiński. Cinematography by Jerzy Wójcik. Production design by Jan Gran- dys. Music by Jan Krenz. Film editing by Jadwiga Zajicek. Production management: Stanisław Adler. © Studio Filmowe Kadr. Cast: Edward Dziewoński (Dzidziuś Górkiewicz), Barbara Połomska (Zosia, Dzidziuś’ wife), Ignacy Machowski (Major), Leon Niemczyk (Lt. Istvan Kolya), Kazimierz Opaliński (Polish Commandant), Zofia Czerwińska (Jogódka), Eleonora Lorentz (Old Woman), Kazimierz Rudzki (Turek), Henryk Bąk (Krygier), Mariusz Dmochowski (Korwin-Makowski), Roman Kłosowski (Szpakowski), Bogu- mił Kobiela (Dąbecki), Józef Kostecki (Żak), Tadeusz Łomnicki (Zawistowski), Józef Nowak (Kurzawa), Wojciech Siemion (Marianek).