The 49th Polish Film Festival

The 49th Polish Film Festival

Gdynia 23-28.09.2024

Men of Blue Cross

February 1945. In the area of Podhale still occupied by Germans, there’s a small guerrilla hospital led by Doctor Juraj. In the face of the front drawing near and serious condition of his patients, the doctor crosses the border to ask the Tatra Volunteer Rescue Service in Zakopane for help. Rescuers agree to set off on an exceptionally dangerous mission. Under extreme conditions and threatened by the enemy, they reach...
Men of Blue Cross

Man on the Tracks

The story of an experienced train driver dismissed based on a false accusation of sabotaging the new working ethics. After his tragic death, each of his colleagues paints a different picture of the man who, as we learn eventually, sacrificed his life to save the train and its passengers. Based on Stefan Stawiński’s short story Tajemnica maszynisty Orzechowskiego [The Secret of Orzechowski the Train Driver].  
Man on the Tracks

Eroica

The film is a combination of two short stories. Part one features a Warsaw slyboots Dzidziuś. Dragged against his will into the Warsaw Uprising, he brings himself to make a heroic deed, however entirely pointless. Part two takes place at a German Oflag. There circulates a legend about an alleged prison break of Lieutenant Zawistowski. Few know the truth but won’t say a word not to rob their fellow inmates...
Eroica

Destination Nowa Huta!

A documentary about the construction and opening of steelworks Nowa Huta and the first film made by Andrzej Munk. Exemplary of socialist realism in Polish cinema, the short depicts physical labour in the steelworks running like clockwork with some insight into everyday life.
Destination Nowa Huta!

A Railwayman’s Word

A documentary about the hard work of railwaymen transporting coke from Tarnowskie Góry to Szczecin Iron works. They’re doing their best to arrive on time.
A Railwayman’s Word

Sunday Morning

Rebuilt Warsaw on a beautiful, sunny Sunday morning. A ride on the bus offers a glimpse into passengers’ funny behaviour and tells a story of a quarrelling couple.
Sunday Morning

Passenger

On a luxurious cruise, Liza notices a woman whose face shakes her to the core and brings back memories. During World War II, Liza was a guard in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. She chose Marta, a proud and defiant Pole, as a helper. Irritated by the prisoner’s attitude, she decided to do whatever it takes to break her into a perfect slave. For years, Liza was certain that Marta, the...
Passenger

A Walk in the Old City of Warsaw

A 9-year-old girl is strolling through the Old City of Warsaw. The camera follows her as she discovers the charms of different nooks and crannies.
A Walk in the Old City of Warsaw