Enjoy your school holidays with this amazing film.   ‘ In Desert and Wilderness’ is an adaptation of the popular young adult novel, in Polish called ‘W pustyni i w puszczy’ written by Henryk Sienkiewicz.   Beautiful photography. Film recommended for 7-8 years+

The main characters are fourteen year-old Stas Tarkowski and eight-year-old Nel Rawlinson who are thrilled to be with their fathers in the exotic land of Egypt. The palm trees and beaches offer a welcome change from the chills of Europe and the children are fascinated by the different languages and religions that make up the cultural fabric of North Africa….

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Museum Hours: Tues – Fri 10-4   Sun 12-5

‘Stara Basn’ or ‘When the Sun was God’ is an outstanding story, with fast action, bloody battles, romance, territorial feuds, exceptional visual scenes and spectacular costumes.

Stara Basn, produced and directed by Jerzy Hoffman, presents us with one of Poland’s oldest legends on film. This is a story from Poland’s prehistory pagan time; a story that has been told and re-told and Hoffman does a fantastic retelling of this story on film, giving the viewer an indication of how Poland was back then.

In this powerful tale, the fates of the characters interlace in an everlasting fight between the good and the evil and in the human passions of love, hatred and the greed for power.

If you enjoy historical movies you have to watch this one..

Zosia, a contemporary and smart young woman has an unusual gift, a gift of making every man fall in love with her.

They are all ready to abandon their normal, everyday lives and surrender to the temptation and fight for Zosia’s heart.

And she knows how to use her hopeless admirers’ blind attraction.

But she meets Mateusz, then she discovers what love is, how strong it can be and how deeply it possesses time, thoughts and the heart.

Pan Tadeusz or Mr Tadeusz, recounts the story of two feuding noble families and the love between Tadeusz Soplica (the title character) of one family, and Zosia of the other. Beautiful scenes and period costumes make this a must see…

The subplot involves a spontaneous revolt of the local inhabitants against the occupying Russian garrison.

The story takes place over the course of five days in 1811 and one day in 1812 at a point in Polish history, when Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth had already been divided between Russia, Prussia, and Austria. The scene is set in the Lithuanian village of Soplicowo.

A 10 year Karol Wojtyla in the 1930’s in Poland, has dreams, many dreams. One by one they are shattered. First, by the loss of his mother and brother. Then by the outbreak of war and the death-fleeing exodus that ensued. And finally by the first sign of Jewish persecution.

These events will mark Karol’s long journey from worker, to poet and to teacher. A journey full of encounters that eventually leads him to become the man we all knew. A man who has marked an era. A man who has made history.

Karol Wojtyla, whose tireless fight for humanity and basic fundamental rights begins with the German invasion of his native Poland in 1939.

Appalled at the brutal treatment afforded his Jewish friends, Karol turns to his religion as a means of making a difference in the world, and with the help of several other like-minded individuals mounts a non-violent, but extremely effective, anti-Nazi resistance.

Ordained as a priest at war’s end, Karol finds himself fighting another form of Godless totalitarianism, this one from the Communists who have overtaken his country.

Ultimately, Father Karol Wojtyla’s noble mission culminates in his being elected as Pope John Paul II in 1978 and it was surely no coincidence that Poland’s liberation was now but a matter of time.

2 screenings – watch in one sitting on Sunday 13th August 2-5pm or return Wednesday afternoon 16th August 1-4pm

Polish Museum, 125 Elliot St, Howick phone 09 533 3530.

Entry by cash donation or internet banking

This film is being shown on the exact feast day being August 15th.

‘Our Lady of Czestochowa’, is a religious film showing the history of the monastery and sanctuary of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa, Poland. The film takes you on a tour of Poland’s greatest religious shrine, including those places which are not accessible to ordinary visitors. This film helps to  understand the unique phenomenon of the Jasna Gora sanctuary

The Black Madonna Icon is a 122 x 82cm painting on a wooden panel which is shrouded by richly ornamented jeweled robes, legends and miracles.

It is believed that Poland is under protection of The Black Madonna painting. A famous Catholic icon celebrated by Polish people on 15th August each year.

Story about a Pilgrimage to Czestochowa, Poland

The tradition of pilgrimages to Czestochowa, a famous Marian sanctuary (also commonly known by the name of Jasna Gora, or the Bright Mountain) is a long and diverse in Poland.

The most characteristic form of devotion is the summer walking pilgrimages to the sanctuary, when people from all over the country set off to walk in organized groups to this very special place. The experience involves hours or days of walking but there’s much more to do than just walk. The friars organize lectures on the way, focusing on various aspects of Catholic spirituality.

Perhaps the most striking feature of such an experience, it is the attitudes of people you inevitably meet on the way. From sharing drinking water or carrying your backpack for a while, to just being there to listen when you need it – but also inhabitants of local villages that pilgrimage passes through offer vast assistance, provide meals and places to stay overnight. Thus the way to the sanctuary becomes at least equally important to finally reaching it – another nice parable to the Christian way of life.

The experience is open to anyone who would like to participate in the  pilgrim  each August. There are some foreign guests – from the US, France, Finland, Philippines. Just bring yourself a pair of comfortable shoes – and you can start walking. Text by Kamila (Warsaw, Poland)

A 10 year Karol Wojtyla in the 1930’s in Poland, has dreams, many dreams. One by one they are shattered. First, by the loss of his mother and brother. Then by the outbreak of war and the death-fleeing exodus that ensued. And finally by the first sign of Jewish persecution.

These events will mark Karol’s long journey from worker, to poet and to teacher. A journey full of encounters that eventually leads him to become the man we all knew. A man who has marked an era. A man who has made history.

Karol Wojtyla, whose tireless fight for humanity and basic fundamental rights begins with the German invasion of his native Poland in 1939.

Appalled at the brutal treatment afforded his Jewish friends, Karol turns to his religion as a means of making a difference in the world, and with the help of several other like-minded individuals mounts a non-violent, but extremely effective, anti-Nazi resistance.

Ordained as a priest at war’s end, Karol finds himself fighting another form of Godless totalitarianism, this one from the Communists who have overtaken his country.

Ultimately, Father Karol Wojtyla’s noble mission culminates in his being elected as Pope John Paul II in 1978 and it was surely no coincidence that Poland’s liberation was now but a matter of time.

2 screenings – watch in one sitting on Sunday 13th August 2-5pm or return Wednesday afternoon 16th August 1-4pm

Polish Museum, 125 Elliot St, Howick phone 09 533 3530.

Entry by cash donation or internet banking

Ron Jeffery was described by the Gestapo as “one of the foxiest devils in Europe” His wartime adventures as a courier, spy and even executioner have all the hallmarks of a fantastic spy thriller– but it’s all true.

This powerful film uses mix of documentary, rare archive footage and vivid recreations to lift the secrecy on this story of a courageous British born, New Zealander during his time in Europe during WW2

Ron Jeffery  served as a Lance Corporal in the 6th West Kent Battalion and was captured during the Battle of France by the Wehrmacht in 1940. He was transported to prison and then to a camp in Poland. He escaped twice from two camps and finally joined up with the Polish Underground Army in Warsaw.

Using forged documents issued under false Polish and German names, Jeffery began to serve as a courier in the Polish Underground, as a part of several missions to occupied cities such as Vienna, Prague and Budapest.

After WW2, Jeffery emigrated to New Zealand where he ran a business.He compiled his memoirs in the book called “Red Runs the Vistula” published in 1985.

This is his story.

Awards:

In 1943, Home Army General Tadeusz Bor-Komorowski personally awarded Jeffery the Polish Cross of Valour.

In 1996 Jeffery was awarded the Home Army Cross

In 1995, the President of Poland Lech Walesa awarded him the Comander of the Order of Merit, one of the highest honours the Polish Government can bestow on a foreigner.

The ‘1920 Battle of Warsaw’ is the only battle fought by the Poles themselves (unassisted by others) since the seventeenth century,  with a winning result.

This battle maintained the newly regained Poland’s independence for 19 years and halted the Red Army march on Europe, forcing Lenin and Trotsky to resign from lighting the “flame of world revolution”.

However, it is not the historical figures, except Pilsudski, that will play a decisive role in this film.

The entire burden of action and the involvement of the audience’s emotions falls on the shoulders of two literary characters: Ola a revue theatre actress and her recently married husband Jan, a communism-supporting idealist. The fighting lines will be shown by Jan’s fate. Ola will be a participant in and be a witness of the emotions experienced by the residents of Warsaw.

This dramatised documentary recounts how, during the most decisive phase of Battle of Britain, a single squadron of 34 Polish fighter pilots wreaked havoc on the Luftwaffe, in the process helping to change the course of history and overturning RAF prejudices.

Based on a diary kept by the Pilots of the 303 Squadron.

Belatedly, the Poles were cleared for active service and had an immediate impact. By the time the Battle of Britain was won, they had claimed 126 enemy planes, but as the war ended, their joy turned to despair as they saw their own country handed to Stalin