Polonia Restituta (1981)

"Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła"

Poland is not yet lost, according to the first line of the Polish national anthem written in 1797.

Poland lost its independence in the 18th century after the partition of the territory by the Prussians, Austrians and Russians.

Despite Germanization and Russification, the hope for a Restored Poland (Latin: Polonia Restituta) remains alive, especially in the Austro-Hungarian part of Poland.

After the outbreak of the First World War, Jozef Pilsudski seized his opportunity and captured the city of Kielce from the Russians in August 1914.

However, the Russian soldiers are absent in the film, which has a documentary-like feel due to the extensive use of historical archive footage. It's the Germans who are getting the worst of it.

Polonia Restituta is therefore a communist production that focuses extensively on the Russian Revolution and the short-lived socialist uprisings in Silesia and Galicia.

However, Pilsudski was certainly not a socialist. Together with Paderewski and the nationalist Dmowski, Polish independence was proclaimed on November 11, 1918.

The film, which consists of 7 parts and lasts over 5 hours, is mainly a report of the diplomatic negotiations in Paris.

The music and vocals are by Czeslaw Niemen. The beautiful Litany of the Pilgrimage (Litania pielgrzymska) opens each part of the film.

Translated from Dutch · View original