Samson

Jakub Goldberg is a Jew imprisoned for killing a Fascist student in self-defence. Released at the outbreak of war, he’s put in a ghet- to and works as a gravedigger. After his mother dies, Jakub moves to the Arian side, seeking safety door to door. Personal tragedy and the necessity to keep hiding badly affect him. When the ghetto is liquidated – thus, all bridges burned – he joins the underground as a printer. Jakub dies in a fight by detonating grenades to kill German soldiers.

A tragic life of a young Jew, an unwilling witness to the annihilation of his nation, at the backdrop of savage atrocities of World War II. A portrait of a vast array of attitudes towards ghetto runaways.

written by Kazimierz Brandys, Andrzej Wajda
director of photography Jerzy Wójcik
music Tadeusz Baird
production design Leszek Wajda
costume design Jan Banucha, Wiesława Chojkowska
make-up Mirosław Jakubowski
sound Józef Bartczak
edited by Janina Niedźwiecka
cast Serge Merlin, Alina Janowska, Elżbieta Kępińska, Jan Ciecierski, Tadeusz Bartosik, Władysław Kowalski
production Zespół Filmowy Droga, Zespół Filmowy Kadr
production manager Stanisław Daniel