Directed by:
Agnieszka HollandCinematography:
Adam HolenderComposer:
Georges DelerueCast:
Christopher Lambert, Ed Harris, Joss Ackland, Tim Roth, Timothy Spall, Pete Postlethwaite, Cherie Lunghi, Joanne Whalley, David Suchet, Wojciech Pszoniak (more)Plots(1)
Agnieszka Holland directs this sincere, moving political drama about Poland in 1981, and the birth of the Solidarity movement that advocated freedom, gaining a fervent following that greatly threatened the government. The film focuses on two men--Father Alek (Christopher Lambert), a young priest who preaches human rights and supports the outlawed Solidarity union; and Stefan (Ed Harris), a communist officer whose philosophies are on the opposite end of the spectrum. As the story unfolds, Stefan's less-than-noble intentions become painfully evident, his hatred for the sensitive, beloved Father Alek stemming from an internal demon that threatens to explode at any moment. When his superior officer (Joss Ackland) gives him approval to handle the situation however he chooses, he teams up with Feliks (Tim Roth) and Igor (Timothy Spall) to track down the priest and another sympathetic supporter of the movement, Josef (Pete Postlethwaite). Based on the true story of Father Jerzy Popielusko. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Christopher Lambert
USA
Best movies:
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (2012) - a.f.
Highlander (1986)
I Love You (1986)
Ed Harris
USA
Best movies:
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
The Truman Show (1998)
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Joss Ackland
UK
Best movies:
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1959)
The Three Musketeers (1973)
Tim Roth
UK
Best movies:
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990)
Timothy Spall
UK
Best movies:
The King's Speech (2010)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
The Last Samurai (2003)
Pete Postlethwaite
UK
Best movies:
Inception (2010)
The Usual Suspects (1995)
In the Name of the Father (1993)
Cherie Lunghi
UK
Best movies:
The Mission (1986)
Much Ado About Nothing (1984) (TV movie)
Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil (1999) (TV movie)
Joanne Whalley
UK
Best movies:
Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982)
Wolf Hall (2015) (series)
The Challenger (2013) (TV movie)
David Suchet
UK
Best movies:
Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2016) (TV movie) - narrator
The Hollow Crown (2012) (series)
Shakespeare Live! From the RSC (2016) (theatrical recording)
Wojciech Pszoniak
Poland
Best movies:
Korczak (1990)
The Promised Land (1974)
Black Thursday (2011)
Gregor Fisher
UK
Best movies:
Love Actually (2003)
Gormenghast (2000) (series)
1984 (1984)
Jerome Flynn
UK
Best movies:
Loving Vincent (2017)
Ripper Street (2012) (series)
A Mind to Murder (1995) (TV movie)
Matyelok Gibbs
Best movies:
Victor Victoria (1982)
Babel (2006)
Priest (1994)
Daniel Olbrychski
Poland
Best movies:
Gibel imperii (2005) (series)
The Promised Land (1974)
Potop (1974)
Paul Crauchet
France
Best movies:
War of the Buttons (1962)
My Mother's Castle (1990)
My Father's Glory (1990)
Raoul Delfosse
France
Best movies:
Charade (1963)
The Sicilian Clan (1969)
The Brain (1969)
Janine Darcey
France
Best movies:
Le Glaive et la balance (1963)
Rififi (1955)
Witness in the City (1959)
Eugeniusz Priwieziencew
Poland
Best movies:
Schindler's List (1993)
With Fire and Sword (1999)
How I Unleashed World War II (1970)
Vincent Grass
Belgium
Best movies:
Hornblower: The Even Chance (1998) (TV movie)
Ernest & Celestine (2012)
Sharpe's Enemy (1994) (TV movie)
André Chaumeau
France
Best movies:
My Mother's Castle (1990)
Germinal (1993)
Bankers Also Have Souls (1982)