Animated History of Poland (2011) User Reviews

Exceeded my expectations

[Horst_In_Translation · 8/10 · 13 September 2013]

This is a wonderful animated short-film by director Tomasz Baginski and IMO far superior to his Oscar-nominated work Katedra from 10 years ago. In less than 9 minutes, it narrates the whole history of Poland and does a magnificent job doing so. The animation succeeds, especially when it comes to the people which is always a difficult subject. But also the landscapes and houses are very well done and the music and sound effects work well together with what you see. History teachers in Poland should include this short film in their courses. I believe it's a great idea to show this to your students and discuss all the different sequences afterward.

I believe every country should pick one of their most talented animation directors and have them make a film like that one. I'm truly surprised it didn't get any awards attention at all, especially as the director already merited high honors before in his career. I won't go into detail about the particular historic events that are depicted, but let me say as much that Baginski's portrayal of recent history, i.e. of the ghettos during World War 2 and the Polish efforts towards independence in the 1980s made my eyes wet. In my opinion this is one of the best animated short films (you could probably even cut the "animated") of the last 5 years. Very much recommended and I hope the director will soon get a chance to make his first full feature movie.

useful

[Kirpianuscus · 31 July 2016]

a great animation. a perfect lesson of history. an admirable tool for discover the past of a brave country. a model. and more. a model. not only for define in 9 minutes a fascinating and dramatic story of glory and sacrifices, fights and hope but for remind the force of love for fatherland. for admire the precision of details - characters, houses, churches, Copernic, Chopin silhouettes but, in same measure, dramatic . a film who has a lot of gifts. or virtues. or beauties. because Tomasz Baginski recreates an universal story presenting the past of his nation. because , after its end, you see again. searching understand significance of each scene. an admirable work. and an useful one. because it propose not exactly a national evolution. but a realistic portrait of a part of Europe who not forget its individuality.

admirable lesson

[Vincentiu · 30 June 2014]

a short touching film. a history lesson and, in same measure, a courageous artistic one. in 9 minutes - the past of a country. like a tree. precise and cold. a remember and a high didactic tool. all seems be beautiful - drawing, animation, music. and, after its end, it seems be perfect because the basic gift is the flavor of a glorious, heroic and bitter past of a country who was, in same measure, one of political power from region and one of great victims of history.a film of suggestions and references, a movie about a fight and a victory. useful and necessary. for remember, for know, for understand. because it reflects not only the history of Poland but the struggles of a part of Europe.