With a screenplay written by the director together with Jarosław Sokoł, an all-star cast and cinematography by Slawomir Idziak and 3D effects, the pricey flick is set to woo audiences around the world with a tale of courage and spectacular battle scenes.
"Battle of Warsaw 1920" is Poland's first ever 3D feature film, it was filmed using the Fusion Camera System and is one of the most expensive movies in the history of Polish cinema. The film tells the story of the 1920 clash between the newly reborn Poland and Soviet Russia. Known as the so-called "Miracle on the Vistula", the Battle of Warsaw, Poland's defeat of the Red Army shortly after the regaining of national independence.
78-year-old Jerzy Hoffman, who was nominated for an Oscar in 1974, presented the film's premiere at an official press screening on Monday the 26th of September 2011 in Warsaw and on the 6th of October in London. President Bronislaw Komorowski was among the guests of honour at the screening in Warsaw's Grand Threatre, with many luminaries from the arts and politics taking part.
An all-star cast was assembled for the production, including seasoned veteran Daniel Olbrychski as hero of Polish independence, Marshal Jozef Pilsudski. The camera was manned by noted director of photography Slawomir Idziak, whose credits include Ridley Scott's "Black Hawk Dawn", "Harry Potter" and "The Order of the Phoenix".
Hoffman weaves a love story against the backdrop of conflict, when a young left-wing cavalry officer and poet Jan, played by Borys Szyc, is called to the Polish-Bolshevik front shortly after proposing marriage to his girlfriend Ola, played by Natasza Urbanska, a dancer in Warsaw's revue theatre, they decide to marry before he goes to the front. While he is gone, the girl is harassed by an unwanted admirer and decides to join the Voluntary Legion Of Women preparing to defend Warsaw in the upcoming battle.