125 Elliot Street
Howick, Auckland 2014
New Zealand
Sunday Winter Films: ‘Poles Apart’ by A Suchanski
Poles Apart is the story of 733 Polish orphans who came to New Zealand in 1944. With a backdrop provided by the events of World War Two, the documentary traces their long and arduous journey from Poland through Siberia, Uzbekistan and Persia to New Zealand: a journey that takes them from the warmth and comfort of their homes in Poland, to the freezing barracks of Siberian forced labour camps, to the suffocating heat of the mud huts of Uzbekistan, to converted harems and stables of the Shah of Persia and finally to a former army camp in Pahiatua, New Zealand.
‘Polish children in Persia 1942-44’ and ‘Little Poland in Pahiatua’ exhibition photographs are on display in the Upper gallery for viewing after the film.
This documentary was made for the 60th reunion and has a number of the now adults interviews on their thoughts about this incredible story