Still from "Eroica"
A remastered, high-definition version of the legendary Polish director’s most celebrated work, Eroica presents two tales of anti-heroic protagonists who could not escape from the influence of the dominating spirit of heroism during WWII
Created by Andrzej Munk in 1957 and aiming to demystify the archetypal image of heroism prevailing during socialist realism, Eroica is set during WWII and tells two separate stories. Based on on J.S. Stawinski's short stories Wegrzy / The Hungarians and Ucieczka / The Escape, the films full title is Eroica. Heroic Symphony in Two Parts, Part I Scherzo alla pollacca, Part II OStinato Lugubre. Showing the atmosphere of foolhardy heroism which even influences those not concerned with becoming heros, the award-winning film is considered a landmark of Polish cinema and has been called "A darkly comic, intelligent, and unorthodox chronicle... a clever, engaging, and insightful satire on duty, courage, and heroism". (Strictly Film School)
Part one tells the story of how a seemingly irresponsible and selfish man Dzidzius Górkiewicz ends up joining the Warsaw Uprising despite his reluctance and rationalism. He tries to help some Hungarians who want to join the uprising contact its commanders. His adventures reveal many nonsensical aspects of the uprising and present a certain point of view - the pointlessness of taking up arms. The second part two is set in an POW camp where Polish officers are being kept by the Nazis. To keep up the spirits of their fellow prisoners, two of them invent the legend of the heroic escape of Lieut. Zawistowski. In reality the alleged hero is hidden in an attic where he eventually falls ill, suffers a breakdown following the death of his friend, and dies. The legend's inventors continue to uphold the story of the escape, seeing the beneficial influence of the legend on their fellow prisoners' morale, and secretly get rid of the body. Critics have commented, that "Both tales converge to create a blackly comic and perceptive satire; a provocative, powerful, and potent anti-war poem considered amongst the most subversive films of the period".
DVD Details:
BARCODE: 5060114150409
RRP: £12.99
BBFC cert: 12
Feature: 81 minutes
Special Feature: 18 mins
Language: Polish / Subtitles: English
Production: 1957, Poland
DVD Special features:
• Presented from a new high-definition restoration of the film, supervised by the film’s cinematographer Jerzy Wójcik.
• Andrzej Munk’s prize-winning short film A Walk in the Old Town of Warsaw.
• New and improved English subtitle translation.
• 16-page booklet featuring a new essay by author and film scholar Dr César Ballester.
For more information see: Polish Cultural Institute
Thumbnail credit: Still from “Eroica”, photo: fot. East News / Polfilm
Sources: culture.pl, Polish Institute London
Author: Marta Jazowska