Rafal Wieczynski Movies

Rafal Wieczynski helmed this docudrama account of legendary yet ill-fated Polish priest Jerzy Popieluszko, best known as the foremost champion of the anti-Communist Solidarity movement, or Solidarnosc. Despite attaining heroic status in many sectors, Popieluszko also drew wrath from the Communist government and fell prey to an uncommonly violent death at the hands of three Polish Security Service officers in October 1984. This film dramatically recreates the major events of Popieluszko's life, with Adam Woronowicz portraying the martyr, Joanna Szczepkowska as Roma Szczepkowska, and Antoni Krolikowski as Grzegorz Przemyk. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Balthazar Kober (Rafal Wieczynski) is a young man who ventures across plague-ridden Germany during the 16th century. Possessed with magical powers, the stuttering Balthazar can conjure up the angel Gabriel and his late mother (Emmanuele Riva). The hero is helped by a wise philosopher (Michael Lonsdale), who guides the orphan wanderer as he travels. The story is taken from the novel by French author Frederick Tristan. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

In a deliberately slow-paced, introverted story with many long periods of total silence, a Jewish industrial advisor, Jacob Rosenberg (Wladyslaw Kowakski) goes through the long process of resigning himself to his eventual deportation to a concentration camp. The setting is World War II in Poland, and Jacob has just been taken out of his job and forced to work cleaning the streets. As he goes the rounds of home and work, his daily encounters seem surreal, and his life is palpably charged with an overriding sense of doom. There is no escape for him, he knows it, and all he can do is prepare for the final ride in the railroad car. Both the intentionally slow pace and restricted dialogue in this film, as well as the subject matter, may leave some viewers feeling frustrated -- perhaps that is the intention of the director, Waldemar Dziki. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi