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OSCARS 2014 Poland

Oscars : Andrzej Wajda candidate with Walesa, Man of Hope

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- The Polish veteran enters the race for the Oscar nomination 2014 for Best Foreign Language Film

Oscars : Andrzej Wajda candidate with Walesa, Man of Hope

The decision of the Polish selection committee for the Oscars, presided by Waldemar Krzystek, was a surprise to no one. As expected, it was Wałęsa, Man of Hope [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
 by Andrzej Wajda (87 years old) that was selected to represent the country in the race for the Oscar nomination for the next Best Foreign Language Film (which will be awarded on March 2 after a first short list of 5 nominations on January 16). A choice not only carried by the director who is already considered a master, but also a film which is one of the most important works in the director’s 60 year career.

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In his new film, unveiled out of competition at the Venice Mostra, Andrzej Wajda draws the portrait of Lech Wałęsa, a cult figure of the Solidarność movement, which was at the origin of the fall of the Communist regime in Poland. This historical biography is filmed by the director through very strong and sincere emotions, since the struggle against communism was part of Wajda’s personal history. He was indeed very close to the events at the time and delved from an early stage in his work into the struggle mechanisms against the political regime with notably Man of Marble in 1977 and Man of Iron in 1981. 

The cast notably features Robert Wieckiewicz (in the role of Lech Wałęsa), Agnieszka Grochowska (Best Actress at the Polish Film Awards 2013 for Shameless and who plays Danuta, Wałęsa’s wide) and Italian actress Maria Rosaria Omaggio (who plays the role of journalist Oriana Fallaci). Cinematography was handled by Pawel Edelman. Produced by Akson StudioWałęsa, Man of Hope benefited from backing from the Polish Film Institute, Telewizja Polska – Film Agency, Telekomunikacja Polska, Canal+ Poland and Narodowe Centrum Kultury. International sales will be handled by German company Films Boutique.

The Oscar nomination race is not new to Andrzej Wajda who was already nominated four times with Land of Promise in 1976, The Young Ladies of Wilko in 1980, Man of Iron in 1982 and Katyń [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andrzej Wajda
interview: Michal Kwiecinski
film profile
]
 in 2008. The filmmaker was also rewarded in 2000 by the Academy with an Oscar of Honour for the entirety of his career.

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(Translated from French)

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