7.8/10
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Kanal (1957)

Not Rated | | Drama, War | 20 April 1957 (Poland)
Kanal Poster
In 1944, during the Warsaw uprising against the Nazis, Polish Lieutenant Zadra and his resistance fighters use Warsaw's sewer system to escape the German encirclement.

Director:

Andrzej Wajda

Writers:

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

Stars:

Teresa Izewska, Tadeusz Janczar, Wienczyslaw Glinski | See full cast & crew »
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Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination. See more awards »

Photos

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Cast

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

A symbolic depiction of hell on Earth, set in the last days of the Warsaw uprising in 1944. Lieutenant Zadra is commanding a company of 43 men in a desperate battle amidst the ruins. Facing German offense and cut off from their comrades, Zadra is commanded to retreat his men through the sewer system ('kanal'). Zadra and his men are reluctant to do so, as it would indicate that they have lost the battle, but decide to obey the orders. However, as the men (and women) retreat, it becomes clear that their desperate attempt to flee from the hell of battle will result only in more death and suffering... Written by Heka A.

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

resistance | warsaw poland | nazi occupation | warsaw uprising | uprising | See All (26) »

Taglines:

A story of the heroic Warsaw Rising. See more »

Genres:

Drama | War

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
Edit

Details

Country:

Poland

Language:

Polish | German

Release Date:

20 April 1957 (Poland) See more »

Also Known As:

Kanal See more »

Filming Locations:

Dluga, Sródmiescie, Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zespól Filmowy "Kadr" See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #284. See more »

Quotes

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

Connections

Referenced in Andrzej Wajda: On Kanal (2005) See more »

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User Reviews

It is relentless
26 December 2005 | by futures-1 – See all my reviews

"Kanal" (Polish, 1957): This is the second of Andrzej Wajda's trilogy about WWII in Poland. I love the photography – the light, the angles, the flowing camera movements. "Kanal" is about a group of resistance fighters and civilians who, out of necessity, band together to fight (what appears to be a losing battle) against the oncoming Nazis. First set in an incredibly bleak ruin of Warsaw, the story and acting only intensify as they begrudgingly try to escape through the underground sewer system. This one will take it out of you. It is relentless. It is relentless. It is relentless. It is relentless. Relentless. Relentless. Relentless. Relentless. Relentless. Relentless.
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