Kanal (1957)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Andrzej Wajda

Writers:

Jerzy Stefan Stawinski (screenplay)
Jerzy Stefan Stawinski (story)

Release Date:

20 April 1957 (Poland)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

A symbolic depiction of hell on Earth, set in the last days of the Warsaw uprising in 1944. Lieutenant...

Plot Keywords:

Sewer | Uprising | Warsaw Uprising | Escape | Resistance

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Teresa Izewska	...	Stokrotka
Tadeusz Janczar	...	Ens. Jacek 'Korab'
Wienczyslaw Glinski	...	Lt. 'Zadra'
Tadeusz Gwiazdowski	...	Sgt. 'Kula'
Stanislaw Mikulski	...	Smukly
Emil Karewicz	...	Lt. 'Madry'
Vladek Sheybal	...	Michal 'Ogromny', the composer (as Wladyslaw Sheybal)
Teresa Berezowska	...	Halinka
Zofia Lindorf	...	Old woman looking for her daughter
Janina Jablonowska	...	Woman
Maria Kretz	...	Wounded Woman
Jan Englert	...	Zefir
Kazimierz Dejunowicz	...	Capt. 'Zabawa'
Zdzislaw Lesniak	...	Maly
Maciej Maciejewski	...	Lt. 'Gustaw'

Also Known As:

Canal (International: English title) (informal literal title)
Kanał (Poland)
Kanal (USA)
They Loved Life

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

Poland

Language:

Polish | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Dluga Street, Warsaw, Poland

Company:

Zespól Filmowy "Kadr"

Trivia:

Andrzej Wajda originally wanted Zbigniew Cybulski to play 'Korab'.

Quotes:

Narrator: These are the tragic heroes: watch them closely in the remaining hours of their lives.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Lekcja polskiego kina (2002)

Resistance is Futile

In many respects this movie is sheer brilliance. For starters "Kanal" describes the entire Polish Revolt in a single instance at the eve of its termination. But this movie is much more than a parable of Revolution and struggle. "Kanal" has great characters, great settings, great scenes, and, above all, an important message to be told.

What would it be like to fight an impossible battle against a larger force and be in the real world? What would it be like to face death at every turn and still travel on knowing defeat awaited you at the next bend? "Kanal" is the answer to these questions.