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Heroism

Play trailer Heroism 1957 1h 27m Comedy Drama War Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
This Polish film, divided into two segments, examines what it means to be a hero. Set during World War II, the first segment follows a man forced to become a soldier during the Warsaw Uprising. As the man continues to drink and resist fighting, his choice seems less the cowardly option than the sane one. In the second segment, a soldier tries to escape from a POW camp. While it is unclear whether or not he succeeded, the attempt unnerves the guards and inspires the other prisoners.

Critics Reviews

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Giuseppe Sedia Kino Mania Munk crafted an incomplete symphony to show that heroism in wartime was often a matter of human shrewdness and luck. [This film] heralded a possible alternative to the neo-realistic tendency that eventually prevailed among Polish Film School directors. Rated: 4.5/5 May 27, 2024 Full Review Pauline Kael McCall's Eroica is a true black comedy and one of the few modern movies that has something relevant to say about the modern world. Sep 20, 2023 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It's the work of a deep thinker sardonically reflecting on the insanity of war and the human condition. Rated: A Jan 19, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member all in all, between sacrifice and distancing oneself towards the myth and heroism. a classic Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Bien qu'applique et original, ce film manque de corps, de consistance. Pas facile de faire du cinema... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member It's a shame that such a key film of the Polish New Wave is only available in a horrible looking dvd. Munk's compositions aren't served well by it. This is, nonetheless, a brilliant and often grim film. It is essentially a satire of Polish national heroics told in two brief stories: a bumbling fool stumbles into the Polish Resistance, and the story of a prisoner camp where everyone thinks their leader has escaped but in fact hasn't. The film is a nice ironic counterpoint to the Romantic/ Heroic fatalism of early Wajda films. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Composed of two stories by one of the member of the Polish Film School, this film is extreme optimism with extreme cynicism slashed side by side. The tale is done in such a cathartic manner, very character driven and very much allegorical that I'm not too sure I got the entire gist of it yet. A very striking movie, I would say. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Heroism

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Cast & Crew

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Andrzej Munk

Director

Kazimierz Rudzki

Lt. Turek (segment Ostinato Lugubre)

Barbara Polomska

Zosia, Dzidzius' Wife (segment Scherzo alla Polacca)

Edward Dziewonski

Dzidzius Gorkiewicz (segment Scherzo alla Polacca)

Leon Niemczyk

Lt. Istvan Kolya (segment Scherzo alla Polacca)

Jerzy Stefan Stawinski

Screenwriter
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Heroism

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Movie Info

Synopsis This Polish film, divided into two segments, examines what it means to be a hero. Set during World War II, the first segment follows a man forced to become a soldier during the Warsaw Uprising. As the man continues to drink and resist fighting, his choice seems less the cowardly option than the sane one. In the second segment, a soldier tries to escape from a POW camp. While it is unclear whether or not he succeeded, the attempt unnerves the guards and inspires the other prisoners.
Director
Andrzej Munk
Screenwriter
Jerzy Stefan Stawinski
Genre
Comedy, Drama, War
Original Language
Polish
Runtime
1h 27m