WAŁĘSA. MAN OF HOPE (SYDNEY)

A powerful portrait of one man whose courage and determination helped change the course of history. In "Wałęsa: Man of Hope", Andrzej Wajda brings to the screen the extraordinary story of Lech Wałęsa – Nobel Peace Prize laureate, founder of the Solidarity movement and one of the defining figures of Poland’s struggle for freedom.

Gdańsk, 1970. Against a backdrop of growing unrest and workers’ protests, Lech Wałęsa, an ordinary shipyard electrician, becomes increasingly involved in the fight for workers’ rights. What begins as a struggle for dignity and better living conditions soon develops into a movement that will inspire millions. Alongside his wife Danuta, who shares both the challenges and sacrifices of his extraordinary journey, Wałęsa faces political repression, personal dilemmas and the growing weight of public responsibility.

Through a compelling blend of personal drama and historical events, Wajda traces Wałęsa’s remarkable transformation from an ordinary working man into the charismatic leader of Solidarity, the independent trade union that became a driving force for democratic change in Poland. The film captures the spirit of a nation awakening to the possibility of freedom and the events that helped pave the way for a peaceful revolution.

Combining intimate family moments with the defining moments of modern Polish history, Wałęsa: Man of Hope is both a portrait of a complex and sometimes controversial figure and a tribute to the power of collective courage, solidarity and the enduring human desire for freedom.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

SELECTION: Venice International Film Festival – Out of Competition, 2013

SELECTION: Toronto International Film Festival, 2013

SELECTION: London Film Festival, 2013

SELECTION: Busan International Film Festival, 2013

WINNER: Silver Hugo – Best Actor, Chicago International Film Festival 2013

WINNER: Bridging the Borders Award, Palm Springs International Film Festival 2014

WAŁĘSA. MAN OF HOPE

drama I 2013 I Poland I 127 minutes

Original Title: WAŁĘSA. CZŁOWIEK Z NADZIEI

Director: Andrzej Wajda

Cast: Robert Więckiewicz, Agnieszka Grochowska, Iwona Bielska, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Maria Rosaria Omaggio, Maciej Stuhr, Mirosław Baka, Dorota Wellman 

Age recommendation: Mature Audience 15+

Language: Polish with English subtitles