Eroica (1958)

Two sketches covering episodes from the World War II. In the first novel, "Scherzo alla polacca", a shrewd son, trying to preserve his skin, ultimately becomes a hero and finds a reason for... See full summary »

Director:

Andrzej Munk

Writers:

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

Stars:

Edward Dziewonski, Barbara Polomska, Ignacy Machowski

5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward Dziewonski	...	Dzidzius Gorkiewicz (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Barbara Polomska	...	Zosia, Dzidzius' Wife (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Ignacy Machowski	...	Major (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Leon Niemczyk	...	Lt. Istvan Kolya (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Kazimierz Opalinski	...	Polish Commandant (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Zofia Czerwinska	...	Jogodka (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Eleonora Lorentz	...	Old Woman (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Emil Karewicz	...	Polish Officer (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Tomasz Lengren	...	Boy Scout (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Jerzy Turek	...	Polish Soldier (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Roman Wilhelmi	...	Polish Soldier (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Tomasz Zaliwski	...	Hungarian Officer (segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Jerzy Felczynski	...	(segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Roman Hubczenko	...	(segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")
Zygmunt Listkiewicz	...	(segment "Scherzo alla Polacca")

Storyline

Two sketches covering episodes from the World War II. In the first novel, "Scherzo alla polacca", a shrewd son, trying to preserve his skin, ultimately becomes a hero and finds a reason for fighting. He initially tries to avoid underground training to avoid the Warsaw uprising. His drunkenness, disregard for safety and cowardice when sober stated with humorous effect come out as something sane in the world gone mad. His will to survive is more acceptable than any desire for heroic death. The second novel, "Ostinato lugubre", details a hopeless attempt at escape from a prison camp by a man who can no longer stand the confinement and idiocy of the professional soldiers trying to keep up the military preneses in prison. Nevertheless, his escape boosts the morale of his fellow prisoners, while the "escapee" lies hidden from Germans and comrades alike."

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Plot Keywords:

prison camp | episodic | world war two | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Poland

Language:

Polish German

Release Date:

1 February 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Heroism

Filming Locations:

Bukowina Tatrzanska, Malopolskie, Poland

Company Credits

Production Co:

ZRF "Kadr"

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by Straszny sen Dzidziusia Górkiewicza (1994)

User Reviews

Two Great Stories of Wartime Poland

I personally think you have to be Polish or have studied a great deal of Polish history during World War II and, perhaps, the cultural history of Poland to understand everything in this film. But, it is a set of brilliant dark commentaries on men in time of war. In our first film, Scherzo alla Polacca, a man runs away from his duty during the Warsaw Uprising. He has been a selfish man and does not adapt well to sacrifice, but he reluctantly makes an attempt to do something for the cause without much real effect. This is dark comedy at its best and pokes fun at Hungarians as well as poking fun at opportunists during wartime.

Our second film, Ostinato Lugubre, tells the story of a group of Polish Officers encamped in a German Prisoner of War camp and details the everyday life of the men as they deal with their feelings, lack of privacy and their affection for one man who escaped. Did he really escape? This is the plot point that holds this story together so well. We witness brilliant acting and a deeply moving script.

This is considered one of Munk's great masterpieces and deserves a chance to be released on video. This was part of a festival at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.