In this important film, Wajda, at the age of 82, offers in a starkly accessible way the truth of what happened in the Katyn Forest in 1940 when 15,000 to 22,000 Polish officers were rounded up and shot by the Russian KGB. One of the men murdered that day was Jakub Wajda, Andrzej Wajda’s father. When the Soviets took control of Poland history was officially rewritten blaming the Nazis for the massacre. Though Polish people knew the truth they were forced by threat of imprisonment or execution to remain silent.

Wajda is a brave director having tackled, for example, the wartime occupation of Poland in Ashes and Diamonds (1958) and dissident trade unionism in Man of Marble (1976) under the Soviet regime. Here he addresses a deep wound for Polish people, the massacre, the outbreak of war, the occupation, the post-war settlement and the impact on society.

He eschews a central character and weaves together a narrative of a number of characters linked by the Katyn massacre. He explores their differing reactions to loss and subjugation non-compliance with the authorities, bearing witness to truth, shame, a will to survive. With excellent performances and a shocking last scene, that must have been a painfully cathartic for the director, this is a moving and memorable film.

This powerful, heartfelt and important drama from one of the great names in world cinema deserves to be seen. Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian.

Wjada is a brilliant chronicler of myths, mysteries and milestones of a country that has only been allowed to come out of the shade in the past few decades. Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com

The period sets, costumes and cinematography all superbly recreate the brutal era, grand illusions and everyday suffering of the Polish under the Nazis and Soviets. Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter.