- Man of Iron
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For 1972 Hong Kong film, see Man of Iron (1972 film). For the racehorse, see Man of Iron (horse).
Man of Iron Directed by Andrzej Wajda Written by Aleksander Ścibor-Rylski Starring Jerzy Radziwiłowicz
Krystyna JandaCinematography Edward Kłosiński Distributed by United Artists Classics Release date(s) 
27 July 1981
11 October 1981 (NYC only)Running time 153 min Country Poland Language Polish Man of Iron (Polish: Człowiek z żelaza) is a 1981 film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It depicts the Solidarity labour movement and its first success in persuading the Polish government to recognize the workers' right to an independent union.
The film continues the story of Maciej Tomczyk, the son of Mateusz Birkut, the protagonist of Wajda's earlier film, Man of Marble. Here, Maciej is a young worker involved in the anti-Communist labour movement, described as "the man who started the Gdańsk Shipyard strike", and a journalist working for the Communist regime's radio station, who is given a task of slandering Maciej. The young man is clearly intended as a parallel to Lech Wałęsa (who appears as himself in the movie).
Man of Iron clarifies the ending of Man of Marble, which left the death of Mateusz Birkut ambiguous. Man of Iron explicitly states that Mateusz was killed in clashes at the shipyards in 1970.[1]
The film was made during the brief thaw in Communist censorship that appeared between the formation of Solidarity in August 1980 and its suppression in December 1981, and as such it is remarkably critical of the Communist regime. The film won the Palme d'Or and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.[2]
Cast
- Jerzy Radziwiłowicz - Maciej Tomczyk / Mateusz Birkut
- Krystyna Janda - Agnieszka
- Marian Opania - Winkel
- Irena Byrska - Matka Hulrwicz
- Wiesława Kosmalska - Wiesława Hulewicz
- Bogusław Linda - Dzidek
- Franciszek Trzeciak - Badecki
- Janusz Gajos - Z-Ca Szefa
- Andrzej Seweryn - Kapt. Wirski
- Marek Kondrat - Grzenda
- Jan Tesarz - Szef
- Jerzy Trela - Antoniak
- Krzysztof Janczar - Kryska
- Krystyna Zachwatowicz - Hanka Tomczyk (as Krystyna Zachwatowicz-Wajda)
- Bogusław Sobczuk - Redaktor TV
- Lech Wałęsa - Himself
- Anna Walentynowicz - Herself[3]
References
- ^ "Man of Iron". University of California Cine Files. March 1982. http://cinefiles.bampfa.berkeley.edu/cinefiles/DocDetail?docId=33572. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: Man of Iron". festival-cannes.com. http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1790/year/1980.html. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
- ^ Anna Walentynowicz, whose sacking led to the rise of Solidarity. The Guardian.
External links
Films directed by Andrzej Wajda - A Generation
- Towards the Sun
- Kanał
- Ashes and Diamonds
- Lotna
- Innocent Sorcerers
- Siberian Lady Macbeth
- Samson
- Love at Twenty
- The Ashes
- Gates to Paradise
- Hunting Flies
- Landscape After the Battle
- Pilate and Others
- The Wedding
- The Promised Land
- The Shadow Line
- Man of Marble
- Without Anesthesia
- The Maids of Wilko
- The Orchestra Conductor
- Man of Iron
- Danton
- A Love in Germany
- The Possessed
- Korczak
- Nastasja
- Miss Nobody
- Pan Tadeusz
- The Revenge
- Katyń
- Sweet Rush
Palme d'Or winning films – 1980–1999 All That Jazz (1980) · Kagemusha (1980) · Man of Iron (1981) · Missing (1982) · Yol (1982) · The Ballad of Narayama (1983) · Paris, Texas (1984) · When Father Was Away on Business (1985) · The Mission (1986) · Under the Sun of Satan (1987) · Pelle the Conqueror (1988) · Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) · Wild at Heart (1990) · Barton Fink (1991) · The Best Intentions (1992) · Farewell My Concubine (1993) · The Piano (1993) · Pulp Fiction (1994) · Underground (1995) · Secrets & Lies (1996) · Taste of Cherry (1997) · The Eel (1997) · Eternity and a Day (1998) · Rosetta (1999)
Cinema of PolandFilms A–Z • Chronology of films • Interwar • Pre 1930 • 1930s • 1940s • 1950s • 1960s • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s
Actors • Directors • Cinematographers • Composers • Editors • Producers • ScreenwritersCategories:- Polish films
- Polish-language films
- 1981 films
- Films directed by Andrzej Wajda
- Palme d'Or winners
- Films about the labor movement
- 1980s drama films
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