The War Trilogy

A Generation

Pokolenie

Andrzej Wajda’s feature directorial debut is a portrait of Polish underground fighters during the Second World War.

  • Director

    Andrzej Wajda

  • With

    Tadeusz Łomnicki, Urszula Modrzyńska, Tadeusz Janczar, Roman Polański

  • Poland 1954. 87min

  • Digital (restoration)

  • Certificate

    12A

  • English subtitles

Set in 1942, on the outskirts of Nazi-occupied Warsaw, Wajda’s striking feature debut centres on Stach, and a group of young, anti-German underground fighters, as they prepare for a new mission. The film not only established Wajda as a director to watch, it foregrounded key recurring themes in his work – honour, courage and sacrifice – and presents a stark account of the tragedies of conflict. A landmark film and the first in the director’s acclaimed war trilogy, A Generation helped change the trajectory of Polish cinema.

Contains a scene of suicide.

Restored by DI Factory and reKINO.

+ While You Are Sleeping

Kiedy ty śpisz

Poland 1953. Director Andrzej Wajda. 11min. Digital (restoration). With English subtitles

This fascinating short captures a bustling city at night and was shot by Jerzy Lipman, the cinematographer on A Generation.

Joint ticket available with the screenings of Kanal and Ashes and Diamonds on Sunday 15 February. Tickets £28.50, concessions £22.50 (Members pay £3 less). Book in person at the box office or by phone on 020 7928 3232.

Also available on BFI Player