Lech Walesa Movies
- 2003
- Add Life & Times of Pope John Paul II to QueueAdd Life & Times of Pope John Paul II to top of Queue
Pope John Paul II is one of the most famous and controversial religious figures of his time, and his tenure as the leader of the Catholic Church has seen him winning enthusiastic support from many Catholics around the world at the same time that their obedience to his teachings is waning considerably. The Life & Times of Pope John Paul II is a documentary from filmmaker Terence McKenna that explores Karol Wojtyla's tragic early life in Poland, his stay in a forced labor camp during the Nazi occupation, his decision to become a priest, and his rise through the church hierarchy to become pope. The film also explores John Paul II's participation in political matters in the 1980s and '90s -- most notably his sometimes secretive role in the battle to defeat Communism -- and his uncertain role as he confronts ill heath while the Catholic Church endures one of the most painful crises in its recent history. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1982
In this historical documentary by director and writer Janusz Kijowski, the Jewish actor Simon Zaleski returns to his native Poland in October-November, 1981 to find out if the repression and anti-Semitism he experienced in the spring of 1968 has changed. After the 1968 demonstrations, leading figures in the Polish film industry were removed or demoted, and many Jewish directors, actors, and other associated with the industry permanently left the country. Zaleski holds interviews with Solidarity officials (Lech Walesa and others), workers, farmers, and people on the street. He attends services at churches and synagogues -- and although the overall impression was one of optimism for the future, there were still several people who advised him to stay in exile in Belgium. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Szymon Zaleski
