Pokolenie (1956)

Pokolenie (1956)

Directed by: Andrzej Wajda

Andrzej Wajda's debut war film about World War 2 and an introduction to a career in cinema that exceeds fifty years.

Pokolenie tells the story of a group of young rebels plotting against the German forces in occupied Poland. It is a vivid portrayal of the essence of rebellion in Poland, which collided mercilessly with personal responsibilities in finding work and supporting loved ones.

Wajda portrays the young rebels as dedicated freedom fighters ready to die for their cause. He also demonstrates the suffering and brutality of the war, using subtle methods that some critics have called naive. However, this is Wajda's first major production and it builds on themes that are expanded upon later in his career.

The most unique and stylish attribute to the film is the Dickensian workhouse, which enables Wajda to aggravate the tension between Poles' desire to fight the Germans and to uphold their personal responsibilities at the same time.

Pokolenie is an excellent initiation into the Wajda canon and an important introduction in understanding the destructive forces of war in Europe no less than sixty years ago.