Poland's Touring Outdoor Cinema -A Review of 'Popieluszko, Freedom is Within Us' (2009)
Last month we featured an article about an outdoor movie tour taking place in Poland. A movie distribution company has revived the old practice of outdoor movies with touring cinema, and is taking the new film about Solidarity priest Father Popieluszko out on the road. Many cinemas throughout the country are closing, leaving rural areas without access to film, so the touring cinema program brings outdoor movies to them. It was especially important to the program to feature films made in and about their native land, which is why they chose to feature "Popieluszko, Freedom is Within Us" (2009). The film depicts the true story of the life of Father Jerzy Popieluszko, the priest called "The Solidarity Chaplain", murdered by communist secret police. The following is a review of the film presented by Polskie Radio. You can read the original blog post about the outdoor film event here.
The movie depicts the life and a martyr's death of Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko, chaplain of the Solidarity freedom movement abducted, tortured and brutally murdered by functionaries of the communist regime twenty five years ago.
The story starts with the childhood of the priest, moves on to show his youth when he was drafted to the obligatory communist military service, becomes a priest and heroic chaplain of the Solidarity movement, who defies the regime by preaching the truth, peace and justice. The story is set against the historic background: nationwide strikes and freedom rallies brutally crushed by communists during the martial law.
It took seven months to complete the movie. "PopieЕ‚uszko. Freedom is within us" was shot in 14 Polish cities and featured over seven thousand actors and extras.
Read the original review at: http://www.polskieradio.pl/zagranica/news/artykul102478.html