Andrzej Witold Wajda (; 6 March 1926 – 9 October 2016) was a Polish film and theatre director. Recipient of an
Honorary Oscar
The Academy Honorary Award – instituted in 1950 for the 23rd Academy Awards (previously called the Special Award, which was first presented at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929) – is given annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Moti ...
, the
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...
, as well as Honorary
Golden Lion
The Golden Lion ( it, Leone d'oro) is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguis ...
and
Honorary Golden Bear Awards, he was a prominent member of the "
Polish Film School
Polish Film School ( pl, Polska Szkoła Filmowa) refers to an informal group of Polish film directors and screenplay writers active between 1956 and approximately 1963. Among the most prominent representatives of the school are Andrzej Wajda, And ...
". He was known especially for his trilogy of war films consisting of ''
A Generation
''A Generation'' ( pl, Pokolenie) is a 1955 Polish film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It is based on the novel ''Pokolenie'' by Bohdan Czeszko, who also wrote the script. It was Wajda's first film and the opening installment of what became his Thr ...
'' (1955), ''
Kanał
''Kanał'' (, ''Sewer'') is a 1957 Polish film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was the first film made about the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, telling the story of a company of Home Army resistance fighters escaping the Nazi onslaught through the city's ...
'' (1957) and ''
Ashes and Diamonds'' (1958).
He is considered one of the world's most renowned filmmakers
whose works chronicled his native country's political and social evolution and dealt with the myths of Polish
national identity
National identity is a person's identity or sense of belonging to one or more states or to one or more nations. It is the sense of "a nation as a cohesive whole, as represented by distinctive traditions, culture, and language". National identity ...
offering insightful analyses of the universal element of the Polish experience – the struggle to maintain dignity under the most trying circumstances.
Four of his films have been nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...
: ''
The Promised Land'' (1975),
''
The Maids of Wilko
''The Maids of Wilko'' ( pl, Panny z Wilka) is a 1979 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 52nd Academy Awards. "Maids" is used in the sense of "maidens", hence a ...
'' (1979),
''
Man of Iron
''Man of Iron'' ( pl, Człowiek z żelaza) is a 1981 film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It depicts the Solidarity labour movement and its first success in persuading the Polish government to recognize the workers' right to an independent union.
Th ...
'' (1981) and ''
Katyń'' (2007).
Early life
Wajda was born in
Suwałki
Suwałki ( lt, Suvalkai; yi, סואוואַלק) is a city in northeastern Poland with a population of 69,206 (2021). It is the capital of Suwałki County and one of the most important centers of commerce in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Suwałki ...
, the son of Aniela (née Białowąs), a school teacher, and Jakub Wajda, an army officer. Wajda's father was murdered by the Soviets in 1940 in what came to be known as the
Katyn massacre
The Katyn massacre, "Katyń crime"; russian: link=yes, Катынская резня ''Katynskaya reznya'', "Katyn massacre", or russian: link=no, Катынский расстрел, ''Katynsky rasstrel'', "Katyn execution" was a series of m ...
. In 1942, he joined the Polish resistance and served in the
Home Army
The Home Army ( pl, Armia Krajowa, abbreviated AK; ) was the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland during World War II. The Home Army was formed in February 1942 from the earlier Związek Walki Zbrojnej (Armed Resistance) es ...
. After the war, he studied to be a painter at
Kraków's Academy of Fine Arts before entering the
Łódź Film School, where many famous Polish directors, such as
Roman Polanski
Raymond Roman Thierry Polański , group=lower-alpha, name=note_a ( né Liebling; 18 August 1933) is a French-Polish film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, tw ...
, studied.
Early career
After Wajda's apprenticeship to director
Aleksander Ford
Aleksander Ford (born Mosze Lifszyc; 24 November 1908 in Kiev, Russian Empire – 4 April 1980 in Naples, Florida, U.S.) was a Polish film director; and head of the Polish People's Army Film Crew in the Soviet Union during World War II. Follo ...
, Wajda was given the opportunity to direct his own film. ''
A Generation
''A Generation'' ( pl, Pokolenie) is a 1955 Polish film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It is based on the novel ''Pokolenie'' by Bohdan Czeszko, who also wrote the script. It was Wajda's first film and the opening installment of what became his Thr ...
'' (1955) was his first major film. At the same time Wajda began his work as a director in theatre, including
Michael V. Gazzo's ''
A Hatful of Rain'' (1959), ''
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
'' (1960), and ''
Two for the Seesaw
''Two for the Seesaw'' is a 1962 American romantic- drama film directed by Robert Wise and starring Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine. It was adapted from the 1958 Broadway play written by William Gibson with Henry Fonda and Anne Bancroft ( ...
'' (1963) by
William Gibson
William Ford Gibson (born March 17, 1948) is an American-Canadian speculative fiction writer and essayist widely credited with pioneering the science fiction subgenre known as ''cyberpunk''. Beginning his writing career in the late 1970s, hi ...
. Wajda made two more increasingly accomplished films, which developed further the anti-war theme of ''A Generation'': ''
Kanał
''Kanał'' (, ''Sewer'') is a 1957 Polish film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was the first film made about the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, telling the story of a company of Home Army resistance fighters escaping the Nazi onslaught through the city's ...
'' (1957) (
Special Jury Prize at
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films ...
in 1957, shared with Bergman's ''
The Seventh Seal
''The Seventh Seal'' ( sv, Det sjunde inseglet) is a 1957 Swedish historical fantasy film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Set in Sweden during the Black Death, it tells of the journey of a medieval knight (Max von Sydow) and a game of ch ...
'') and ''
Ashes and Diamonds'' (1958) with
Zbigniew Cybulski
Zbigniew Hubert Cybulski (; 3 November 1927 – 8 January 1967) was a Polish actor, one of the best-known and most popular personalities of the post-World War II history of Poland.
Life
Zbigniew Cybulski was born 3 November 1927 in a small vi ...
.
While capable of turning out mainstream commercial fare (often dismissed as "trivial" by critics), Wajda was more interested in works of
allegory
As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory t ...
and
symbol
A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different conc ...
ism, and certain symbols (such as setting fire to a glass of liquor, representing the flame of youthful idealism that was extinguished by the war) recur often in his films. ''
Lotna
''Lotna'' is a 1959 Polish war film directed by Andrzej Wajda.
Overview
This highly symbolic film is both the director's tribute to the long and glorious history of the Polish cavalry, as well as a more ambiguous portrait of the passing of an era ...
'' (1959) is full of
surrealistic and symbolic scenes and shots, but he managed to explore other styles, making
new wave style ''
Innocent Sorcerers
''Innocent Sorcerers'' ( pl, Niewinni czarodzieje) is a 1960 Polish psychological romantic drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda, and starring Tadeusz Łomnicki and Krystyna Stypułkowska. Its plot follows a young doctor and jazz drummer meeting ...
'' (1960) with music by
Krzysztof Komeda, starring
Roman Polanski
Raymond Roman Thierry Polański , group=lower-alpha, name=note_a ( né Liebling; 18 August 1933) is a French-Polish film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, tw ...
and
Jerzy Skolimowski
Jerzy Skolimowski (, born 5 May 1938) is a Polish film director, screenwriter, dramatist and actor. A graduate of the prestigious National Film School in Łódź, Skolimowski has directed more than twenty films since his 1960 début ''Oko wyk ...
(who was also a co-script writer) in the episodes. Then Wajda directed ''
Samson
Samson (; , '' he, Šīmšōn, label= none'', "man of the sun") was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges (chapters 13 to 16) and one of the last leaders who "judged" Israel before the institution o ...
'' (1961), the story of Jacob, a Jewish boy, who wants to survive during the Nazi occupation of Poland. In the mid-1960s Wajda made ''
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The term originated in a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper, '' The Sporting Times'', immediately after Australia's 1882 victory at The Oval, its first ...
'' (1965) based on the novel by Polish writer
Stefan Żeromski and directed several films abroad: ''
Love at Twenty
''Love at Twenty'' (french: L'Amour à vingt ans, ja, 二十歳の恋, Hatachi no koi, it, L'amore a vent'anni, german: Liebe mit zwanzig, pl, Miłość dwudziestolatków) is a 1962 French-produced omnibus project of Pierre Roustang, consist ...
'' (1962), ''
Siberian Lady Macbeth
''Siberian Lady Macbeth'' (Orig. ''Sibirska Ledi Magbet''), also translated as ''Fury Is a Woman'', is a 1962 film directed by Andrzej Wajda, based on the novella '' Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District'' by Nikolai Leskov.
Cast
* Olivera Ma ...
'' (1962) and ''
Gates To Paradise
''Gates to Paradise'' is a 1968 film by Polish director Andrzej Wajda. The film is set in medieval France and is based on a novel by Polish writer Jerzy Andrzejewski (1960) that seeks to expose the motives behind youthful religious zeal. It was ...
'' (1968).
In 1967, Cybulski was killed in a train accident, whereupon the director articulated his grief with ''
Everything for Sale'' (1968), considered one of his most personal films, using the technique of a film-within-a-film to tell the story of a film maker's life and work. The following year he directed an ironic satire ''
Hunting Flies'' with the script written by
Janusz Głowacki and a short television film called ''
Przekładaniec'' based on a screenplay by
Stanisław Lem
Stanisław Herman Lem (; 12 September 1921 – 27 March 2006) was a Polish writer of science fiction and essays on various subjects, including philosophy, futurology, and literary criticism. Many of his science fiction stories are of satirical ...
.
Artistic recognition
The 1970s were the most prolific artistic period for Wajda, who made over ten films: ''
Landscape After the Battle
''Landscape After the Battle'' ( pl, Krajobraz po bitwie) is a 1970 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda and starring Daniel Olbrychski; telling a story of a Nazi German concentration camp survivor soon after liberation, residing in a D ...
'' (1970), ''
Pilate and Others
Pilate and Others (german: Pilatus und andere - Ein Film für Karfreitag) is a 1972 German drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda, based on the 1967 novel '' The Master and Margarita'' by the Soviet writer Mikhail Bulgakov, although it focuses on th ...
'' (1971), ''
The Wedding'' (1972) – the film version of the famous Polish poetic drama by
Stanisław Wyspiański
Stanisław Mateusz Ignacy Wyspiański (; 15 January 1869 – 28 November 1907) was a Polish playwright, painter and poet, as well as interior and furniture designer. A patriotic writer, he created a series of symbolic, national dramas withi ...
, ''
The Promised Land'' (1974), ''
Man of Marble
''Man of Marble'' ( pl, Człowiek z marmuru) is a 1977 Polish film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It chronicles the fall from grace of a fictional heroic Polish bricklayer, Mateusz Birkut (played by Jerzy Radziwiłowicz), who became the Stakhanovite s ...
'' (1976) – the film takes place in two time periods, the first film showing the episodes of
Stalinism
Stalinism is the means of governing and Marxist-Leninist policies implemented in the Soviet Union from 1927 to 1953 by Joseph Stalin. It included the creation of a one-party totalitarian police state, rapid industrialization, the the ...
in Poland, ''
The Shadow Line
''The Shadow-Line'' is a short novel based at sea by Joseph Conrad; it is one of his later works, being written from February to December 1915. It was first published in 1916 as a serial in New York's ''Metropolitan Magazine'' (September—O ...
'' (1976), ''
Rough Treatment'' (the other title: ''
Without Anesthesia
''Without Anesthesia'' (alternative English title: ''Rough Treatment'') is the English-language title for the Polish film ''Bez znieczulenia'', released in 1978, directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was entered in the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.
According ...
)'' (1978), ''
The Orchestra Conductor'' (1980), starring
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, (; 14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000) was an English actor and theatre director whose career spanned eight decades. With Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, he was one of the trinity of actors who dominated the Brit ...
; and two psychological and existential films based upon novels by
Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz
Jarosław Leon Iwaszkiewicz, also known under his literary pseudonym Eleuter (20 February 1894 – 2 March 1980), was a Polish writer, poet, essayist, dramatist and translator.Bartłomiej Szleszyński, Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz. 2003 Culture.plJaros ...
– ''
The Birch Wood
''The Birch Wood'' ( pl, Brzezina) is a 1970 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda based on a novel by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz. It was entered into the 7th Moscow International Film Festival where Wajda won the Golden Prize for Direction and ...
'' (1970) and ''
The Maids of Wilko
''The Maids of Wilko'' ( pl, Panny z Wilka) is a 1979 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 52nd Academy Awards. "Maids" is used in the sense of "maidens", hence a ...
'' (1979). ''The Birch Wood'' was entered into the
7th Moscow International Film Festival
The 7th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 20 July to 3 August 1971. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Italian film ''Confessions of a Police Captain'' directed by Damiano Damiani, the Japanese film ''Live Today, Die Tomorrow! ...
where Wajda won the Golden Prize for Direction.
Wajda continued to work in theatre, including ''
Play Strindberg'', Dostoyevsky's ''
The Possessed'' and ''Nastasja Filippovna'' – Wajda's version of ''
The Idiot
''The Idiot'' ( pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform rus, Идиот, Idiót) is a novel by the 19th-century Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published serially in the journal ''The Russian Messenger'' in 1868–69.
The title is an ...
'', ''November Night'' by Wyspiański, ''
The Immigrants
''The Immigrants'' (1977) is a historical novel written by Howard Fast. Set in San Francisco during the early 20th century, it tells the story of Daniel Lavette, a self-described "roughneck" who rises from the ashes of the 1906 San Francisco ear ...
'' by Sławomir Mrożek, ''The Danton Affair'' or ''The Dreams of Reason''.
Wajda's later commitment to Poland's burgeoning
Solidarity
''Solidarity'' is an awareness of shared interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies creating a psychological sense of unity of groups or classes. It is based on class collaboration.''Merriam Webster'', http://www.merriam-webster.com/dicti ...
movement was manifested in ''
Man of Iron
''Man of Iron'' ( pl, Człowiek z żelaza) is a 1981 film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It depicts the Solidarity labour movement and its first success in persuading the Polish government to recognize the workers' right to an independent union.
Th ...
'' (1981), a thematic sequel to ''The Man of Marble'', with Solidarity leader
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa (; ; born 29 September 1943) is a Polish statesman, dissident, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who served as the President of Poland between 1990 and 1995. After winning the 1990 election, Wałęsa became the first democrati ...
appearing as himself in the latter film. The film sequence is loosely based on the life of
Anna Walentynowicz
Anna Walentynowicz (; ; 15 August 1929 – 10 April 2010) was a Polish free trade union activist and co-founder of Solidarity, the first non-communist trade union in the Eastern Bloc. Her firing from her job at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk in Au ...
, a hero of socialist labor
Stakhanovite turned dissident and alludes to events from real life, such as the firing of Walentynowicz from the shipyard and the underground wedding of
Bogdan Borusewicz
Bogdan Michał Borusewicz (; born 11 January 1949) was the Marshal in the Polish Senate from 20 October 2005 to 11 November 2015. Borusewicz was a democratic opposition activist under the Communist regime, a member of the Polish parliament ( Sej ...
to
Alina Pienkowska. The director's involvement in this movement would prompt the Polish government to force Wajda's production company out of business. For the film, Wajda won the
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...
at the
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films ...
.
In 1983, he directed ''
Danton
Georges Jacques Danton (; 26 October 1759 – 5 April 1794) was a French lawyer and a leading figure in the French Revolution. He became a deputy to the Paris Commune, presided in the Cordeliers district, and visited the Jacobin club. In August ...
'', starring
Gérard Depardieu
Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu, CQ (, , ; born 27 December 1948) is a French actor, filmmaker, businessman and vineyard owner since 1989 who is one of the most prolific thespians in film history having completed over 250 films since 1967 al ...
in the title role, a film set in 1794 (Year Two of the
French Republican calendar) dealing with the
Post-Revolutionary Terror. Made against the backdrop of the
martial law in Poland, Wajda showed how easily revolution can change into terror and start to "eat its own children." For this film Wajda was honoured with the
Louis Delluc Prize and a
César Award for Best Director
This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Director (French: ''César du meilleur réalisateur'').
History
Superlatives
Winners and nominees 1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Multiple wins and nomination ...
. In the 1980s, he also made ''
A Love in Germany'' (1983) featuring
Hanna Schygulla
Hanna Schygulla (; born 25 December 1943) is a German actress and chanson singer associated with the theater and film director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. She first worked for Fassbinder in 1965 and became an active participant in the New German ...
, ''The Chronicle of Amorous Incidents'' (1986) an adaptation of
Tadeusz Konwicki
Tadeusz Konwicki (22 June 1926 – 7 January 2015) was a Polish writer and film director, as well as a member of the Polish Language Council.
Life
Konwicki was born in 1926 as the only son of Jadwiga Kieżun and Michał Konwicki in Nowa Wilejka, ...
's novel and ''
The Possessed'' (1988) based on
Dostoyevsky
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (, ; rus, Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский, Fyódor Mikháylovich Dostoyévskiy, p=ˈfʲɵdər mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪdʑ dəstɐˈjefskʲɪj, a=ru-Dostoevsky.ogg, links=yes; 11 November 18219 ...
's novel. In theatre he prepared an interpretation of Dostoyevsky's ''
Crime and Punishment
''Crime and Punishment'' ( pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform rus, Преступление и наказание, Prestupléniye i nakazániye, prʲɪstʊˈplʲenʲɪje ɪ nəkɐˈzanʲɪje) is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. ...
'' (1984) and other unique spectacles such as ''Antygone'', his sequential ''
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
'' versions or an old Jewish play ''
The Dybbuk
''The Dybbuk'', or ''Between Two Worlds'' (russian: Меж двух миров �ибук}, trans. ''Mezh dvukh mirov ibuk'; yi, צווישן צוויי וועלטן - דער דִבּוּק, ''Tsvishn Tsvey Veltn – der Dibuk'') is a play by ...
''. In 1989, he was the President of the Jury at the
16th Moscow International Film Festival
The 16th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 7 to 18 July 1989. The Golden St. George was awarded to the Italian film '' The Icicle Thief'' directed by Maurizio Nichetti.
Jury
* Andrzej Wajda (Poland – President of the Jury)
* Ge ...
.
Career after 1990
In 1990, Andrzej Wajda was honoured by the
European Film Awards
The European Film Awards (or European Film Academy Awards) have been presented annually since 1988 by the European Film Academy to recognize excellence in European cinematic achievements. The awards are given in 19 categories, of which the mo ...
for his lifetime achievement, only the third director to be so honoured, after
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini (; 20 January 1920 – 31 October 1993) was an Italian film director and screenwriter known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most ...
and
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007) was a Swedish film director, screenwriter, producer and playwright. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, his films are known as "profoun ...
. In the early 1990s, he was elected a senator and also appointed artistic director of Warsaw's Teatr Powszechny. He continued to make films set during World War II, including ''
Korczak'' (1990), a story about a Jewish-Polish doctor who takes care of orphan children, in ''The Crowned-Eagle Ring'' (1993) and ''
Holy Week
Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
'' (1995) specifically on Jewish-Polish relations. In 1994, Wajda presented his own film version of
Dostoyevsky
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (, ; rus, Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский, Fyódor Mikháylovich Dostoyévskiy, p=ˈfʲɵdər mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪdʑ dəstɐˈjefskʲɪj, a=ru-Dostoevsky.ogg, links=yes; 11 November 18219 ...
's novel
The Idiot
''The Idiot'' ( pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform rus, Идиот, Idiót) is a novel by the 19th-century Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published serially in the journal ''The Russian Messenger'' in 1868–69.
The title is an ...
in the movie ''
Nastasja'', starring Japanese actor Tamasoburo Bando in the double role of Prince Mishkin and Nastasja. The film's cinematographer was
Paweł Edelman
Paweł Edelman (born 26 June 1958) is a Polish cinematographer from Łódź, known for his collaborations with acclaimed directors Roman Polanski and Andrzej Wajda. He was named Best European Cinematographer in 2002 at the European Film Awards fo ...
, who subsequently became one of Wajda's great collaborators. In 1996, the director went in a different direction with ''
Miss Nobody'', a coming-of-age drama that explored the darker and more spiritual aspects of a relationship between three high-school girls. In 1999, Wajda released the epic film ''
Pan Tadeusz
''Pan Tadeusz'' (full title: ''Mister Thaddeus, or the Last Foray in Lithuania: A Nobility's Tale of the Years 1811–1812, in Twelve Books of Verse'') is an epic poem by the Polish poet, writer, translator and philosopher Adam Mickiewicz. Th ...
'', based on the
epic poem
An epic poem, or simply an epic, is a lengthy narrative poem typically about the extraordinary deeds of extraordinary characters who, in dealings with gods or other superhuman forces, gave shape to the mortal universe for their descendants.
...
of the Polish 19th-century romantic poet
Adam Mickiewicz
Adam Bernard Mickiewicz (; 24 December 179826 November 1855) was a Polish poet, dramatist, essayist, publicist, translator and political activist. He is regarded as national poet in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. A principal figure in Polish Ro ...
.
A year later, at the
2000 Academy Awards, Wajda was presented with an
honorary Oscar
The Academy Honorary Award – instituted in 1950 for the 23rd Academy Awards (previously called the Special Award, which was first presented at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929) – is given annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Moti ...
for his contribution to world cinema;
he subsequently donated the award to
Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula, Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland un ...
's
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University ( Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...
.
In 2002, Wajda directed ''
The Revenge'', a film version of his 1980s comedy theatre production, with
Roman Polanski
Raymond Roman Thierry Polański , group=lower-alpha, name=note_a ( né Liebling; 18 August 1933) is a French-Polish film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, tw ...
in one of the main roles. In February 2006, Wajda received an
Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement at the
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the fest ...
.
In 2007, ''
Katyń'' was released, a well-received film about the
Katyn massacre
The Katyn massacre, "Katyń crime"; russian: link=yes, Катынская резня ''Katynskaya reznya'', "Katyn massacre", or russian: link=no, Катынский расстрел, ''Katynsky rasstrel'', "Katyn execution" was a series of m ...
, in which Wajda's father was murdered; the director also shows the dramatic situation of those who await their relatives (mothers, wives and children). The film was nominated for the
Best Foreign Language Film
This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards.
Best Actor/Best Actress
*See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
Oscar in 2008.
Wajda followed it with ''
Sweet Rush'' (2009) with
Krystyna Janda
Krystyna Jolanta Janda (born 18 December 1952) is a Polish film and theater actress best known internationally for playing leading roles in several films by Polish director Andrzej Wajda, including '' Man of Marble'' (''Człowiek z marmuru'', 197 ...
as a main character. It is partly based upon a short
Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz
Jarosław Leon Iwaszkiewicz, also known under his literary pseudonym Eleuter (20 February 1894 – 2 March 1980), was a Polish writer, poet, essayist, dramatist and translator.Bartłomiej Szleszyński, Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz. 2003 Culture.plJaros ...
novel. The film is dedicated to
Edward Kłosiński
Edward Stefan Kłosiński (; 2 January 1943, in Warsaw – 5 January 2008, in Milanówek) was a Polish cinematographer.
Life and work
Kłosiński completed his studies at the National Film School in Lodz in 1967. His screen debut came in 1972; ...
, Janda's husband, a cinematographer and a long-time Wajda friend and co-worker who died of cancer the same year. For this film Wajda was awarded by
Alfred Bauer Prize at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival. He received the Prix FIPRESCI during the 2009 European Film Awards. ''
Walesa. Man of Hope
''Walesa: Man of Hope'' ( pl, Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei ()) is a 2013 Poland, Polish biographical film, biopic film directed by Andrzej Wajda, starring Robert Więckiewicz as Lech Wałęsa. Wajda stated at Krakow, Kraków's Off Plus Camera F ...
'' (''Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei''), Wajda's biography of
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa (; ; born 29 September 1943) is a Polish statesman, dissident, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who served as the President of Poland between 1990 and 1995. After winning the 1990 election, Wałęsa became the first democrati ...
, based on a script by
Janusz Głowacki and starring
Robert Więckiewicz
Robert Więckiewicz (born 30 June 1967) is a Polish film and television actor from Nowa Ruda, Poland. In 2013, he received Best Actor Award at the Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film ...
in the title role, had its world premiere at the 2013
Venice International Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...
. His last film was the 2016 ''
Afterimage'' (''Powidoki''), starring
Bogusław Linda
Bogusław Linda (; born 27 June 1952) is a Polish actor known from films such as ''Psy'' and ''Tato''. He appeared in Andrzej Wajda's ''Man of Iron'' and ''Danton'' and in Krzysztof Kieślowski's '' Blind Chance'' and the seventh episode of Kieś ...
as Polish avant-garde painter
Władysław Strzemiński
Władysław Strzemiński (21 November 1893 – 26 December 1952) was a Polish avant-garde painter of international renown.
Life and work
Strzemiński was born in Minsk to an ethnic Polish family. In 1914, he graduated from the Military School of ...
.
Wajda founded The Japanese Centre of Art and Technology in
Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula, Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland un ...
in 1994. In 2002, he founded and led his own film school with Polish filmmaker
Wojciech Marczewski. Students of Wajda School take part in different film courses led by famous European film makers.
Personal life and death
Wajda was married four times. His third wife was actress
Beata Tyszkiewicz
Beata Maria Helena Tyszkiewicz (born 14 August 1938) is a retired Polish actress and TV personality.
Career
Beata Tyszkiewicz has worked mostly on the big screen but acted in several French TV movies, becoming famous through her portrayal of d ...
with whom he had a daughter, Karolina (born 1967). His fourth wife was the theatre costume designer and actress
Krystyna Zachwatowicz
Krystyna Zachwatowicz-Wajda (born Krystyna Zachwatowicz; 16 May 1930) is a Polish scenographer, costume designer and actress. She is a daughter of architect and restorer Jan Zachwatowicz and Maria Chodźko ''h.'' Kościesza, and wife of film di ...
.
In September 2009, Wajda called for the release of director
Roman Polanski
Raymond Roman Thierry Polański , group=lower-alpha, name=note_a ( né Liebling; 18 August 1933) is a French-Polish film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, tw ...
after Polanski was arrested in Switzerland in relation to his
1977 charge for drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl.
Wajda died in
Warsaw
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...
on 9 October 2016 at the age of 90 from
pulmonary failure
Respiratory failure results from inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, meaning that the arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide, or both cannot be kept at normal levels. A drop in the oxygen carried in the blood is known as hypoxemia; a ri ...
.
He was buried at
Salwator Cemetery in
Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula, Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland un ...
.
Awards and honours
* 2012:
Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary;
* 2011:
Order of the White Eagle (the highest Polish distinction),
Commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...
of the
Order of Three Stars
Order of the Three Stars ( lv, Triju Zvaigžņu ordenis) is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of the founding of Latvia. Its motto is "Per aspera ad astra", meaning "Thr ...
(Latvia);
* 2010:
Order of Friendship
The Order of Friendship (russian: Орден Дружбы, ') is a state decoration of the Russian Federation established by Boris Yeltsin by presidential decree 442 of 2 March 1994 to reward Russian and foreign nationals whose work, deeds ...
of the
Russian Federation
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
,
Order of Danica Hrvatska
The Order of Danica Hrvatska ( hr, Red Danice hrvatske; lit. "Order of the Croatian Morning Star") is the fourteenth most important medal given by the Republic of Croatia. The order was founded on 1 April 1995. The medal is awarded for different pu ...
(Croatia);
* 2008:
Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise
The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise ( uk, Орден князя Ярослава Мудрого) is an award of Ukraine. It is awarded for distinguished services to the state and people of the Ukrainian nation in the field of state building, ...
(Ukraine),
Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana ( et, Maarjamaa Risti teenetemärk, sometimes translated as the Order of the Cross of St. Mary's Land) was instituted by the President of Estonia, Lennart Meri, on 16 May 1995 to honour the independence of t ...
(Estonia);
* 2007: Nomination for an
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
for ''
Katyń'';
* 2006:
Order for Merits to Lithuania
The Order for Merits to Lithuania ( lt, Ordinas Už nuopelnus Lietuvai) is an award, presented by the President of Lithuania, which may be conferred on the citizens of Lithuania and foreign nationals for distinguished services promoting name of Lit ...
;
* 2006:
Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement at the
56th Berlin International Film Festival
The 56th Berlin International Film Festival was held from 9 to 19 February 2006. The festival opened with '' Snow Cake'' by Marc Evans. Digitally restored version of Sam Peckinpah's 1972 film ''Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid'' served as the closin ...
;
* 2005: Gold
Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis
A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...
;
* 2001: Commander's Cross of
Legion d'Honneur
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...
of the French Republic, Great Cross of the
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...
,
Doctor Honoris Causa
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad ho ...
of the
Moscow State Academy of Choreography
The Moscow State Academy of Choreography (russian: Московская государственная академия хореографии), commonly known as The Bolshoi Ballet Academy, is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools of ball ...
;
* 2000:
Academy Honorary Award
The Academy Honorary Award – instituted in 1950 for the 23rd Academy Awards (previously called the Special Award, which was first presented at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929) – is given annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Moti ...
from the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motion ...
;
* 2000:
Doctor Honoris Causa
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad ho ...
of the
Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts,
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ( it, Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana) is the senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi.
The highest-rankin ...
;
* 1999:
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
of the
Order of Polonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta ( pl, Order Odrodzenia Polski, en, Order of Restored Poland) is a Polish state order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on foreigners for outstanding achievemen ...
, Freedom Award for film-making and for "unparalleled commitment to freedom" at the Freedom Film Festival in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitu ...
, the Crystal Iris for life achievement at the National Film Festival in
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
;
* 1997:
Praemium Imperiale
Prince Takamatsu
The Praemium Imperiale ( ja, 高松宮殿下記念世界文化賞, Takamatsu-no-miya Denka Kinen Sekai Bunka-shō, World Culture Prize in Memory of His Imperial Highness Prince Takamatsu) is an international art prize inaugur ...
Award of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Art,
Silver Bear
The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the fes ...
for life achievement and, specifically, for ''
Holy Week
Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
'', at the 46th
Berlin Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the fest ...
(1996); Best Director Award for ''
Miss Nobody'' at the 13th
Festroia International Film Festival
The Tróia International Film Festival, commonly referred to as Festroia ( pt, Festival Internacional de Cinema de Tróia – Festróia) was an annual international film festival in Portugal held from 1985 to 2014.
Held in the town of Setúbal an ...
,
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...
;
* 1997: Honourable Mention at the
47th Berlin International Film Festival
The 47th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 13 to 24 February 1997. The Golden Bear was awarded to Canadian-American film '' The People vs. Larry Flynt'' directed by Miloš Forman. The retrospective dedicated to Austrian fi ...
for ''
Miss Nobody'';
* 1996:
Silver Bear for an outstanding artistic contribution at the
46th Berlin International Film Festival
The 46th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 15 to 26 February 1996. The Golden Bear was awarded to British-American film ''Sense and Sensibility'' directed by Ang Lee. The retrospective dedicated to American film director, p ...
for ''
Wielki tydzień'';
* 1995:
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight f ...
(Japan),
Doctor Honoris Causa
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad ho ...
of
Université Libre de Bruxelles,
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...
,
Witkacy Prize - Critics' Circle Award of the Polish
ITI Centre for the promotion of the Polish theatre abroad and
Doctor Honoris Causa
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad ho ...
of the
Lumière University Lyon 2
Lumière University Lyon 2 (french: Université Lumière Lyon 2) is one of the three universities that comprise the current University of Lyon, having splintered from an older university of the same name, and is primarily based on two campuses in ...
in
Lyon
Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of ...
, France;
* 1994:
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is ...
(France);
* 1990: European Felix Award for life achievement and an outstanding achievement and artistic conduct at the
Cannes International Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
;
* 1989:
Doctor Honoris Causa
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad ho ...
of the
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University ( Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...
;
* 1988: Nomination for the
Golden Bear
The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin.
History
The win ...
at the
38th Berlin International Film Festival
The 38th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 12 to 23 February 1988. The festival opened with musical film ''Linie 1'' by Reinhard Hauff. The Golden Bear was awarded to the Chinese film '' Red Sorghum'' directed by Zhang Yimo ...
for ''
Les Possédés'';
* 1987:
Kyoto Prize
The is Japan's highest private award for lifetime achievement in the arts and sciences. It is given not only to those that are top representatives of their own respective fields, but to "those who have contributed significantly to the scientific, ...
of the Japanese
Inamori Foundation
The Inamori Foundation is a private foundation known for its annual announcement of the Kyoto Prize, founded by Kazuo Inamori in 1984. It reflects "the lifelong beliefs of its founder that people have no higher calling than to strive for the greate ...
for contribution to the development of science, technology and ideas;
* 1986: The
Luigi Pirandello
Luigi Pirandello (; 28 June 1867 – 10 December 1936) was an Italian dramatist, novelist, poet, and short story writer whose greatest contributions were his plays. He was awarded the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his almost magical power ...
Award for activity and achievement in the area of theatre;
* 1985:
Herder Prize The Herder Prize (german: Gottfried-von-Herder-Preis), named after the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803), was a prestigious international prize awarded every year from 1964 to 2006 to scholars and artists from Central and So ...
for contribution to strengthening cultural relations with nations of
Eastern and
Southern Europe
Southern Europe is the southern region of Europe. It is also known as Mediterranean Europe, as its geography is essentially marked by the Mediterranean Sea. Definitions of Southern Europe include some or all of these countries and regions: Alb ...
;
* 1983:
César Award Cesar, César or Cèsar may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''César'' (film), a 1936 film directed by Marcel Pagnol
* ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt
* César Award, a French film award
Places
* Cesar, Portugal
* Ces ...
of the
French Academy of Film Art and Technology for ''
Danton
Georges Jacques Danton (; 26 October 1759 – 5 April 1794) was a French lawyer and a leading figure in the French Revolution. He became a deputy to the Paris Commune, presided in the Cordeliers district, and visited the Jacobin club. In August ...
'';
* 1982:
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
of
Legion d'Honneur
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...
(France);
Onassis Foundation Award for work for human rights and dignity;
* 1981:
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...
at the
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films ...
for ''
Man of Iron
''Man of Iron'' ( pl, Człowiek z żelaza) is a 1981 film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It depicts the Solidarity labour movement and its first success in persuading the Polish government to recognize the workers' right to an independent union.
Th ...
'';
* 1981: Nomination of an
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
for ''
Man of Iron
''Man of Iron'' ( pl, Człowiek z żelaza) is a 1981 film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It depicts the Solidarity labour movement and its first success in persuading the Polish government to recognize the workers' right to an independent union.
Th ...
'';
* 1981:
Doctor Honoris Causa
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad ho ...
of the
University of Washington
The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington.
Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seatt ...
;
* 1980:
FIPRESCI
The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI, short for Fédération Internationale de la PRESse CInématographique) is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world fo ...
and Basque Cultural Society awards at the
San Sebastián International Film Festival
The San Sebastián International Film Festival ( SSIFF; es, Festival Internacional de San Sebastián, eu, Donostia Zinemaldia) is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastián in September, in ...
for ''
The Orchestra Conductor'';
* 1979: Golden Lions at the 6th
Gdynia Film Festival
The Gdynia Film Festival (until 2011: Polish Film Festival, Polish: ''Festiwal Polskich Filmów Fabularnych w Gdyni'') is an annual film festival first held in Gdańsk (1974–1986), now held in Gdynia, Poland.
It has taken place every year sinc ...
for ''
The Maids of Wilko
''The Maids of Wilko'' ( pl, Panny z Wilka) is a 1979 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 52nd Academy Awards. "Maids" is used in the sense of "maidens", hence a ...
'',
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
The Prize of the Ecumenical Jury (french: Prix du Jury Œcuménique) is an independent film award for feature length films shown at major international film festivals since 1973. The award was created by Christian film makers, film critics and ot ...
at the
Cannes International Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
for ''
Without Anesthesia
''Without Anesthesia'' (alternative English title: ''Rough Treatment'') is the English-language title for the Polish film ''Bez znieczulenia'', released in 1978, directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was entered in the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.
According ...
'', Life Achievement Award at the La Rochelle International Film Festival and
Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius The Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius is an award conferred by the Republic of Bulgaria.
History
It has had three incarnations :
* first on 18 May 1909 by the Kingdom of Bulgaria,
* second on 13 December 1950 by the People's Republic of Bulga ...
for contribution to the development of Polish-Bulgarian cultural co-operation;
* 1979: Nomination for an
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
for ''
The Maids of Wilko
''The Maids of Wilko'' ( pl, Panny z Wilka) is a 1979 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 52nd Academy Awards. "Maids" is used in the sense of "maidens", hence a ...
'';
* 1978: Golden Lions at the 5th
Gdynia Film Festival
The Gdynia Film Festival (until 2011: Polish Film Festival, Polish: ''Festiwal Polskich Filmów Fabularnych w Gdyni'') is an annual film festival first held in Gdańsk (1974–1986), now held in Gdynia, Poland.
It has taken place every year sinc ...
for ''
Without Anesthesia
''Without Anesthesia'' (alternative English title: ''Rough Treatment'') is the English-language title for the Polish film ''Bez znieczulenia'', released in 1978, directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was entered in the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.
According ...
'', Jury Award and Best Director Award at the 18th
Cartagena Film Festival
The Cartagena Film Festival ( es, Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena de Indias), or FICCI, is a film festival held in Cartagena, Colombia, which focuses mainly on the promotion of Colombian television series, Latin American films and shor ...
(Colombia) for ''
Promised Land
The Promised Land ( he, הארץ המובטחת, translit.: ''ha'aretz hamuvtakhat''; ar, أرض الميعاد, translit.: ''ard al-mi'ad; also known as "The Land of Milk and Honey"'') is the land which, according to the Tanakh (the Hebrew ...
'';
* 1976: Journalists Award at the 3rd
Brussels International Film Festival for ''
Promised Land
The Promised Land ( he, הארץ המובטחת, translit.: ''ha'aretz hamuvtakhat''; ar, أرض الميعاد, translit.: ''ard al-mi'ad; also known as "The Land of Milk and Honey"'') is the land which, according to the Tanakh (the Hebrew ...
'', Golden Spike for ''The Promised Land'' at the
Valladolid Film Festival
The Valladolid International Film Festival, popularly known as Seminci (short for ; ), is a film festival held annually in Valladolid, Spain. First held in 1956 as ('Valladolid Religious Film Week'), the Seminci is one of the longest-standing ...
;
* 1975: Golden Prize at the
9th Moscow International Film Festival
The 9th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 10 to 23 July 1975. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Polish film '' The Promised Land'' directed by Andrzej Wajda, the Soviet-Japanese film '' Dersu Uzala'' directed by Akira Kurosawa ...
for ''
The Promised Land''.;
* 1975: Nomination for an
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
for ''
The Promised Land'';
* 1973: Silver Shell at the
San Sebastian International Film Festival for directing ''
The Wedding'';
* 1964:
Officer
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...
's Cross of the
Order of Polonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta ( pl, Order Odrodzenia Polski, en, Order of Restored Poland) is a Polish state order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on foreigners for outstanding achievemen ...
;
* 1959: Jury and
FIPRESCI
The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI, short for Fédération Internationale de la PRESse CInématographique) is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world fo ...
Award at the
Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...
for ''
Ashes and Diamonds'',
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
's Cross of the
Order of Polonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta ( pl, Order Odrodzenia Polski, en, Order of Restored Poland) is a Polish state order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on foreigners for outstanding achievemen ...
;
* 1957: Special
Jury Prize at the
Cannes International Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
for ''
Kanał
''Kanał'' (, ''Sewer'') is a 1957 Polish film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was the first film made about the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, telling the story of a company of Home Army resistance fighters escaping the Nazi onslaught through the city's ...
''.
Filmography
* ''The Bad Boy'' (''Zły chłopiec'', 1951 short film)
* ''The Pottery at Ilza'' (''Ceramika ilzecka'', 1951 short film)
* ''While you are sleeping'' (''Kiedy ty śpisz'', 1953 short film)
* ''
A Generation
''A Generation'' ( pl, Pokolenie) is a 1955 Polish film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It is based on the novel ''Pokolenie'' by Bohdan Czeszko, who also wrote the script. It was Wajda's first film and the opening installment of what became his Thr ...
'' (''Pokolenie'', 1955)
* ''
Towards the Sun'' (''Idę do słońca'', documentary on
Xawery Dunikowski
Xawery Dunikowski (; 24 December 1875 – 26 January 1964) was a Polish sculptor and artist, notable for surviving Auschwitz concentration camp, and best known for his Neo-Romantic sculptures and Auschwitz-inspired art.
Biography
Dunikowski w ...
, 1955)
* ''
Kanał
''Kanał'' (, ''Sewer'') is a 1957 Polish film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was the first film made about the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, telling the story of a company of Home Army resistance fighters escaping the Nazi onslaught through the city's ...
'' (1957)
* ''
Ashes and Diamonds'' (''Popiół i diament'' 1958)
* ''
Lotna
''Lotna'' is a 1959 Polish war film directed by Andrzej Wajda.
Overview
This highly symbolic film is both the director's tribute to the long and glorious history of the Polish cavalry, as well as a more ambiguous portrait of the passing of an era ...
'' (1959)
* ''
Innocent Sorcerers
''Innocent Sorcerers'' ( pl, Niewinni czarodzieje) is a 1960 Polish psychological romantic drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda, and starring Tadeusz Łomnicki and Krystyna Stypułkowska. Its plot follows a young doctor and jazz drummer meeting ...
'' (''Niewinni czarodzieje'', 1960)
* ''
Siberian Lady Macbeth
''Siberian Lady Macbeth'' (Orig. ''Sibirska Ledi Magbet''), also translated as ''Fury Is a Woman'', is a 1962 film directed by Andrzej Wajda, based on the novella '' Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District'' by Nikolai Leskov.
Cast
* Olivera Ma ...
'' (''Powiatowa lady Makbet'', 1961)
* ''
Samson
Samson (; , '' he, Šīmšōn, label= none'', "man of the sun") was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges (chapters 13 to 16) and one of the last leaders who "judged" Israel before the institution o ...
'' (1961)
* ''
Love at Twenty
''Love at Twenty'' (french: L'Amour à vingt ans, ja, 二十歳の恋, Hatachi no koi, it, L'amore a vent'anni, german: Liebe mit zwanzig, pl, Miłość dwudziestolatków) is a 1962 French-produced omnibus project of Pierre Roustang, consist ...
'' (''L'amour à vingt ans'', 1962)
* ''
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The term originated in a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper, '' The Sporting Times'', immediately after Australia's 1882 victory at The Oval, its first ...
'' (''Popioly'', 1965)
* ''Roly Poly'' (''
Przekładaniec'', 1968)
* ''
Gates to Paradise
''Gates to Paradise'' is a 1968 film by Polish director Andrzej Wajda. The film is set in medieval France and is based on a novel by Polish writer Jerzy Andrzejewski (1960) that seeks to expose the motives behind youthful religious zeal. It was ...
'' (''Bramy Raju'', 1968)
* ''
Everything for Sale'' (''Wszystko na sprzedaż'', 1969)
* ''
Hunting Flies'' (''Polowanie na muchy'', 1969)
* ''
The Birch Wood
''The Birch Wood'' ( pl, Brzezina) is a 1970 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda based on a novel by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz. It was entered into the 7th Moscow International Film Festival where Wajda won the Golden Prize for Direction and ...
'' (''Brzezina'', 1970)
* ''
Landscape After the Battle
''Landscape After the Battle'' ( pl, Krajobraz po bitwie) is a 1970 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda and starring Daniel Olbrychski; telling a story of a Nazi German concentration camp survivor soon after liberation, residing in a D ...
'' (''Krajobraz po bitwie'', 1970)
* ''
Pilate and Others
Pilate and Others (german: Pilatus und andere - Ein Film für Karfreitag) is a 1972 German drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda, based on the 1967 novel '' The Master and Margarita'' by the Soviet writer Mikhail Bulgakov, although it focuses on th ...
'' (''Pilatus und andere'', 1972)
* ''
The Wedding'' (''Wesele'', 1973)
* ''
The Promised Land'' (''Ziemia obiecana'', 1974)
* ''
The Shadow Line/Smuga Cienia'' (''Smuga cienia'', 1976)
* ''
Man of Marble
''Man of Marble'' ( pl, Człowiek z marmuru) is a 1977 Polish film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It chronicles the fall from grace of a fictional heroic Polish bricklayer, Mateusz Birkut (played by Jerzy Radziwiłowicz), who became the Stakhanovite s ...
'' (''Człowiek z marmuru'', 1977)
* ''
Without Anesthesia
''Without Anesthesia'' (alternative English title: ''Rough Treatment'') is the English-language title for the Polish film ''Bez znieczulenia'', released in 1978, directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was entered in the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.
According ...
'' aka ''Rough Treatment'' (''Bez znieczulenia'', 1978)
* ''
The Maids of Wilko
''The Maids of Wilko'' ( pl, Panny z Wilka) is a 1979 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 52nd Academy Awards. "Maids" is used in the sense of "maidens", hence a ...
'' (''Panny z Wilka'', 1979)
* ''As years go by, as days go by'' (''Z biegiem lat, z biegiem dni'', 1980 TV series)
* ''
The Orchestra Conductor'' (''Dyrygent'', 1980)
* ''
Man of Iron
''Man of Iron'' ( pl, Człowiek z żelaza) is a 1981 film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It depicts the Solidarity labour movement and its first success in persuading the Polish government to recognize the workers' right to an independent union.
Th ...
'' (''Człowiek z żelaza'', 1981)
* ''
Danton
Georges Jacques Danton (; 26 October 1759 – 5 April 1794) was a French lawyer and a leading figure in the French Revolution. He became a deputy to the Paris Commune, presided in the Cordeliers district, and visited the Jacobin club. In August ...
'' (1983)
* ''
A Love in Germany'' (''Eine Liebe in Deutschland'', 1983)
* ''
A Chronicle of Amorous Accidents
''A Chronicle of Amorous Accidents'' () is a 1986 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda, starring Paulina Młynarska and Piotr Wawrzyńczak. It tells the story of two Polish adolescents who fall in love on the eve of World War II. The film ...
'' (''Kronika wypadków miłosnych'', 1985)
* ''
The French as seen by...'' (''Proust contre la déchéance'', 1988)
* ''
The Possessed'' (''Les possédes'', 1988)
* ''
Korczak'' (1990)
* ''The Crowned-Eagle Ring'' (''Pierścionek z orłem w koronie'', 1992)
* ''
Nastasja'' (1994)
* ''
Holy Week
Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
'' (''Wielki Tydzień'', 1995)
* ''
Miss Nobody'' (''Panna Nikt'', 1996)
* ''
Pan Tadeusz
''Pan Tadeusz'' (full title: ''Mister Thaddeus, or the Last Foray in Lithuania: A Nobility's Tale of the Years 1811–1812, in Twelve Books of Verse'') is an epic poem by the Polish poet, writer, translator and philosopher Adam Mickiewicz. Th ...
'' (1999)
* ''Bigda idzie'' (''Bigda idzie!'', 1999 TV theatre)
* ''The Condemnation of Franciszek Klos'' (''Wyrok na Franciszka Kłosa'', 2000)
* ''June night'' (''Noc czerwcowa'', 2001 TV theatre)
* ''Broken Silence'' (''Przerwane milczenie'', 2002)
* ''
The Revenge'' (''Zemsta'', 2002)
* ''Man of Hope'' (''Czlowiek z nadziei'', 2005 short film)
* ''
Katyń'' (2007)
* ''
Sweet Rush'' (''Tatarak'', 2009)
* ''
Walesa. Man of Hope
''Walesa: Man of Hope'' ( pl, Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei ()) is a 2013 Poland, Polish biographical film, biopic film directed by Andrzej Wajda, starring Robert Więckiewicz as Lech Wałęsa. Wajda stated at Krakow, Kraków's Off Plus Camera F ...
'' (''Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei'', 2013)
* ''
Afterimage'' (2016)
See also
*
Cinema of Poland
The history of cinema in Poland is almost as long as the history of cinematography, and it has universally recognized achievements, even though Polish films tend to be less commercially available than films from several other European nations.
Af ...
*
List of Polish-language films
There are two lists of Polish language films:
# Alphabetical by Polish title
# Alphabetical by title of English release
Alphabetical by Polish title
* '' Austeria''
* '' Bilans kwartalny''
* '' Człowiek na torze''
* '' Człowiek z Marmuru''
...
*
Museum of Communism, Poland
*
List of Poles
This is a partial list of notable Polish or Polish-speaking or -writing people. People of partial Polish heritage have their respective ancestries credited.
Science
Physics
* Czesław Białobrzeski
* Andrzej Buras
* Georges Charpa ...
*
List of Polish Academy Award winners and nominees
This is a list of Academy Award winners and nominees whose career and identification are associated predominantly with Poland. The list is current as of the 94th Academy Awards nominations. There were eight Academy Awards given to Polish filmmaker ...
References
External links
*
Andrzej Wajdaat th
Internetowa Baza FilmowaAndrzej Wajdaat th
Internetowa Baza Filmu PolskiegoAndrzej Wajdavideo a
Web of Stories(via UC Berkeley)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wajda, Andrzej
1926 births
2016 deaths
People from Suwałki
People from Białystok Voivodeship (1919–1939)
Academy Honorary Award recipients
Łódź Film School alumni
European Film Awards winners (people)
Filmmakers who won the Best Foreign Language Film BAFTA Award
BAFTA fellows
Best Director César Award winners
Directors of Palme d'Or winners
César Honorary Award recipients
Honorary Golden Bear recipients
German-language film directors
Katyn massacre
Kyoto laureates in Arts and Philosophy
Members of the Senate of Poland 1989–1991
Polish film directors
Polish United Workers' Party members
Recipients of the Order of the Builders of People's Poland
Recipients of the Order of the Banner of Work
Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 3rd Class
Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Members of the Academy of Arts, Berlin
Recipients of the Praemium Imperiale
Herder Prize recipients
Burials at Salwator Cemetery
Recipients of the State Award Badge (Poland)
20th-century Polish screenwriters
Male screenwriters
20th-century Polish male writers
Home Army members