Popieluszko. Wolnosc jest w nas (2009) - full transcript

In the aftermath of WorId War II
PoIand feII under the communist regime.

The PoIish authorities
reporting to Soviet Russia

were ruthIessIy eIiminating
any organized opposition.

However, the fight continued
in the hearts of PoIes.

- What about these?
- No...

I've found them!

WeII done!

You cut it with a knife
so the spawn stays in pIace.

Like this...

Those running peopIe...
Were they bandits?

- No.
- SoIdiers?



Neither bandits, nor soIdiers.

I'd caII them knights.

WiII they win?

- They won't.
- WiII they Iose?

They won't either.

Promise me you wiII forget
aII that you've seen here.

I won't.

Promise me you'II not
taIk about this to anyone.

- Why shouIdn't I?
- Daddy asks you to.

I won't teII.

What is this siIence about?
Someone died?

- I'm thinking.
- You'd better harness the horse

and ride the kids to the granny's,
so that they don't stay here.

Mom, was UncIe AIfons
shot by the Ruskies too?



- It was the Ruskies aII right.
-WIadek!

Stop babbIing and scaring
your brothers!

- Just give me the rosary.
- What uncIe?

Never mind.
Wise men hoId their tongues.

Stick to that and you'II have
nothing to fear.

God wiII watch you.

The Lord is with you.
BIessed are you among women...

HoIy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners...

WeIcome!

The Knight of ImmacuIata

Popiełuszko
Freedom Is Within Us

The machine gun section is napping?!
Man the positions!

Fasten your heImets
so your brains don't spiII out.

Private Nowak,
where's your heImet?

Never mind, after aII you have
nothing in your head.

- Lewandowski, aim carefuIIy.
- What to aim at, comrade Iieutenant?

Shut your mouth!
It's me who asks questions here!

Private PopieIuszko, wiII you stop
admiring the scenery?

- Look at the target.
- What target, comrade Iieutenant?

SiIence! Look at the barreI!
Not at the cartridge cIip.

Or eIse I'II throw you
in the guardhouse. Fire!

I'm such an artist you'II appear
in the photo Iike reaI miIitary.

Since no one can be saved
who does not first beIieve,

priests, as co-workers
with their bishops,

have the primary duty of
procIaiming the GospeI of God to aII.

Their ministry itseIf,
by a speciaI titIe...

Get off the truck!
FaII in! Two ranks!

WeII, show me those scraps.

Where are you hiding that sacred stuff?
In your pants?!

Private Nowak,
you are an honest one -

you'II be a good priest,
come here.

Here's the onIy decent man.

The onIy one who's
not afraid of teIIing the truth.

PopieIuszko, Lewandowski,Wasiewicz,
give me those scraps, you cheaters!

So these are the kites
you get from the bishops, right?

WeII, this proves who doesn't want
an agreement between the state

and the Ohurch to be reached.
The bishops with Wyszynski in the Iead.

Who is responsibIe
for foreign newspapers

writing bad things about PoIand?
The bishops with Wyszynski in the Iead.

Who wants PoIand to be a kingdom?
The bishops with Wyszynski in the Iead.

Look, a bird pooed on him.

No way, I bet it was the bishops
with Wyszynski in the Iead.

May I join you?

You know we are not
aIIowed to pray together.

We don't have to obey
everything they say.

I'm sorry... I'm afraid.

HaiI Mary, fuII of grace.
The Lord is with you...

BIessed are you among women,

and bIessed is the fruit
of your womb, Jesus.

HoIy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners...

What the heII is this?!
A rosary group?! Attention!

SiIence!

- Take this off.
- Why shouId I?

It's not a wedding ring, you don't
wear these in the army.

- Maybe it is for me.
- Take it off! It's an order!

Buzz off!

Private PopieIuszko,
foIIow me to the officer.

Because you fancy it?
Maybe the officer shouId come to me.

Forget the officer...

Out it out!

You're screwed...

Two men for each swimmer.
If you see one drowning,

puII him out, but not too fast,
so he can Iearn something.

Get in the water!

Attention!

Private PopieIuszko...

do you know what a soIdier
shouId do when given an order?

Private PopieIuszko is siIent,
because he doesn't know that.

Private, do you know your name?

And your father's name?

You don't.

WeII, that happens.

Show me your hands!

Yuck! He just got out of the water
and is aIready dirty as heII.

WeII, PopieIuszko?

Didn't your parents teach you the
difference between a soIdier and a pig?

Sir, I report that
my mother, Marianna,

and my father, WIadysIaw, did teach me
that not every soIdier is a pig.

You shouId've taken that off before
getting in the water. Give it to me.

Private PopieIuszko, hand it over!
It's an order!

Sir, I refuse to obey it.

Private, don't you know
you may be prosecuted for that?!

Why do you refuse to take it off?

It's onIy a gesture,
you have much to gain -

you can do something good
for your feIIows.

''In 1 648 Innocent X,

seeking to expand the territory
of the PapaI States,

started a war campaign
against the duchy of Oastro...''

''The city was conquered,
the houses and churches razed,

and the area incorporated
into the PapaI domain.''

This is what
your Ohurch is about.

You disIike Nowak
because he's scared, huh?

You Iike to waIk around
Iike a knight in shiny armor,

who's so great amidst the petty others.

But Iet me teII you something.

You Iook stupid,

outdated, Iike a moron...
no one wiII Iike you.

PeopIe wiII prefer Nowak -
and you know why?

You Iousy priest,
you good for nothing bastard!

Are you bored?! I'II turn your duty
into an endIess nightmare!

No Ieaves!
Even if your mother dies!

Then I'II Iock you up
with guards around

so you don't sneak out!

You damn inquisitor,
you piece of trash...

Why do I bother treating you
Iike a human,

trying to save what I can!
After aII I'm a PoIe, too.

- Everyone says the same.
- Shut your mouth!

Attention!

They're praying for you
in the haII.

AUGUST 1 968

AIarm! Get up! Hurry!

Something is not right.

I can see our Iieutenant's
thinking has changed.

Oomrade Iieutenant?
Where are we going?

You may pray now.
We're going to OzechosIovakia!

To OzechosIovakia?

You mean we're invading OzechosIovakia?!

- We're not invading, we're defending!
- I bet we're defending sociaIism.

What's going on?

Nothing.

Stop! PuII up! PuII up! Stop!

He's feeIing sick.

1 9 79 - WARSAW
John PauI II's first visit to PoIand

I, a son of the PoIish Iand,

at the same time I,
John PauI II, the Pope,

caII out with aII of you:

Let Thy Spirit descend!

Let Thy Spirit descend...

and renew the face of the Iand!

This Iand.

As a matter of equaIity your abundance at
the present time shouId suppIy their want,

so that their abundance may suppIy
your want, that there may be equaIity.

As it is written, ''He who gathered much
had nothing Ieft over,

and he who gathered IittIe had no Iack.''

Thank you, sister.

How are you?

WeII, thank you.
I just wanted a jam sandwich.

Father, Iisten to me.
I invited you not onIy to our rectory

but aIso to our community.

We eat meaIs together Iike a famiIy.

We priests are Iike
brothers to each other,

and this is sister - Krystyna.

- Of course.
- And one more thing.

I was at your Mass yesterday

It was OK,
but the singing...

Sing that Marian hymn
''Oh, LoveIy and WonderfuI Star...''

- Now? Here?
- Yes.

Oh, LoveIy and Wonderf--

No, not LoveIy...
Oh, LoooveIy and WooonderfuI Staaar!

Oh, Lo...Iy and WonderfuI Sta....

This must be fixed.

But Father Pastor,
I've never sung weII.

Do you beIieve in
the Oommunion of Saints?

Then get to work.

Oh, LoooveIy and WooonderfuI Staaar...

Father Jerzy,
this piece is okay.

- Now for the rest of it.
- Excuse me, Monsignor.

Primate Wyszynski's chapIain
is on the phone.

God bIess you, Father OhapIain.

- The Warsaw SteeIworks is on strike...
- But it's the third time this year.

This time they don't want raises...
they want independent trade unions.

They're on strike because
the Gdansk Shipyard is on strike too.

It's a soIidarity strike...
Father OhapIain, this is big.

They're occupying the SteeIworks,
so they want a Mass in there.

Of course we can.
God bIess you.

In the SteeIworks!

In the bastion
of the communist party!

They want a Mass!

Ahh, I have a baptism ceremony today.

- I have to ceIebrate HoIy Mass here.
- Me too...

Maybe I can go.

It seems that I am free at the moment.

AUGUST 1 980 WARSAW

When do you go out, Mietek?

Open the gate!

Father, weIcome!

Zygmunt!

- I'm Jerzy.
- I'm Ireneusz.

God bIess you.

WeIcome.

I'm a journaIist, true journaIist.
What wiII you say to them?

We've put up a IittIe aItar.

BeautifuI.

I hope it'II do.

Father, I have something
to teII you. May I?

- I'm Mietek.
- And I'm Jerzy.

It's that I yeII at my mother,

and occasionaIIy hit my wife.

I see. Why do you do that?

It depends - you know, Father,
she's a manuaI Iaborer's wife...

But she's your wife.

- That's the point!
- What was the trade of Saint Joseph?

He was a carpenter.

Does it mean that he was
a manuaI Iaborer as weII?

Then Mother Mary was
a manuaI Iaborer's wife, right?

Father, don't speak such things!

The fact that you Iive in this worId is
enough for you to enjoy the dignity

of a chiId of God,
and the same goes for your wife.

And keep in mind that
you're fighting for freedom here...

You have to confess your sins...
and when the strike is over

you'II give your wife fIowers
and fuIfiII three wishes for her.

You'II stand up
every time she enters the room

just as Primate Wyszynski
teaches us.

OouId you give me
absoIution right now?

If they shoot us dead...

- I've offended God...
- Wait! I need to taIk.

They've chosen five of us,
we're to visit shipyard workers in Gdansk

and meet with that eIectrician who's
in charge of the strike there, with WaIesa.

But I don't reaIIy know, Father.

My woman has just
recentIy promised me a kid.

- I'm sorry, I don't understand.
- Father, you know.

We've been together for a whiIe,

but she aIways said
I wouId't make a good father.

And now, through the gate.
I arranged everything with her;

She promised that as soon as
the strike was over she'd marry me

and give me a chiId...

but in return I promised
not to expose myseIf to danger.

Father, what wouId you do
if you were me?

I don't know.

I wouId pray to
the HoIy Spirit for guidance.

Listen, since they chose you,
they must trust you

and need you,

so wiII your wife
and the future chiId.

There are so many reasons
to succumb to fear,

and fear is an enemy
stronger than the miIitia,

the government, or another man.

Try to do what's right

and have faith in God.
God wiII not abandon you.

That's easy for you to say!

I'm sorry.

Father just has to taIk
Iike priests do

and that's aII right.

I'm Z ygmunt, Father Jerzy,
and my wife's name is Marysia.

...and grant us
the peace and unity

of your Kingdom.

where you Iive and reign
forever and ever.

Amen.

The peace of the Lord
be with you aIways.

And with your spirit

Let us offer each other
the sign of peace.

Bring victory!

We can have order and honesty.

It's the PoIish way.

Our Lady Queen of PoIand,
take care of the strikers' famiIies.

Let them support and understand
their Ioved ones.

Workers are openIy

demanding fuII civic rights.

Hence the demands
for reaI autonomous

trade unions
and freedom of speech.

''for those peopIe who feeI
that they are now finaIIy at home''

We can't stop working aItogether.
The furnaces wouId bIow the fu....

I mean... they'd bIow to heII...

I mean... there'd be a catastrophe.

After aII, if we win this strike
the pIant wiII be ours, right?

You don't have to be afraid of anything.

After this kind of work
purgatory wiII be a breeze for you.

She Iooked so pretty
through the cIosed gate.

This wiII change when the gate is open.

I toId her to go home.
You can't be sure what'II happen here at night.

They won't invade.

Never know, communists aIways Iie.

Those who trusted them
in the 70's are dead.

Their famiIies don't
know where their graves are.

Stop scaring the boy.
This government won't dare.

I'm not afraid?! It was you
who went to Oonfession not me!

You are not baptized,
you can't go to Oonfession.

The same peopIe governed
in '7 6 when Radom was pacified.

That was before a PoIe
became the Pope.

We must trust each other.

Now aII of PoIand is together.

True, we must trust each other.

Are they yours?

How oId are the kids?

Orap, I wish I had a photo
of my woman.

What's this you're saying?

I'm saying that I'd sure as heII
Iike to Iook at her.

- What?
- As soon as aII this crap finishes

I'II get her to a damn photographer.

I can't understand him.
What about you, Mietek?

I can't understand a word.
What about you, Father?

In fact you're speaking a bit uncIearIy

a few too many of those words.

I'm sorry.
I'II take the girI to a photographer

and have her picture taken,
aII nice and sweet.

And I'II keep it together
with my mother's photo.

So you carry your mother's photo?

Here, have this as weII.

Be quiet!

Jesus! They've entered! It's begun!

- Father, are you with us?
- Yes, I am.

No cIubs! Put those rods down!
Don't panic!

They haven't invaded!
There was no siren!

Boys've returned!

We shouId make a fIag,
because this one is not visibIe.

They've agreed on independent
and autonomous trade unions!

We've won! Thanks to SoIidarity!

Mr. Director! We're coming to you!

AUGUST 31 1 980

We now have the right
to go on strike,

we have our own papers,
we're going to write what we pIease,

and other rights wiII foIIow.

FEBRUARY 1 981

Young peopIe, misinformed by strike
Ieaders, forced the Ministry to agree

on the creation of
the Independent Students' Association.

GeneraI JaruzeIski is taking over,
that's encouraging.

PoIand is, and aIways wiII be,

an enduring Iink uniting aII sociaIist states.

MAY 1 981

As we crossed Warsaw on foot
we saw IocaI peopIe waving their hands,

they support us
and they appreciate our toiI

and our fierce fight
for our own trade union.

MAY 1 3 1 981

The Primate's Iove of the homeIand
was guided by prudence

and moderation as he was
aware of his responsibiIity.

JUNE 1 981

SoIidarity, irrationaI sIogans,

the hunger is an effect of
the 9th Oonvention,

sociaIism without the party.
It's not poIitics, it's sheer madness.

Our chiIdren starve!

NO VEMBER 1 981

The surprising strike in
the Warsaw Firefighting SchooI,

which reports to
the Ministry of InternaI Affairs.

We're fighting for our schooI
to be independent of the Ministry.

OnIy after two days did it become apparent
that the strike was directed

by the deputy chief of
the IocaI SoIidarity, Jaworski.

DECEMBER 1 3 1 981

HeIp!

Jurek!

Jurek, damn!

They've started to mess us!

- FIorek, be more precise.
- Do you know what's happening?

If something is going on,
then watch your Ianguage aII the more.

- Speak PoIish!
- Right, must speak PoIish;

aII those peopIe
from SiIesia caIIed Irek

and toId him that a coIoneI showed up,
gave a saIute

and warned that they shouId Iook for
repIacements for the IocaI Ieaders

of ''SoIidarity'', because they are
about to be arrested.

and he added that being a PoIe
he had to warn them!

Of course Irek screwed this up,
because he thought they had panicked.

His neighbor, a printer, was arrested,
and now I'm running with the news.

Let's go to my pIace.
You can caII from there.

BaIoney ! The phones are dead.

Oh, my God, Z ygmunt...

Jurek, wait... wait... wait... !

I have to go back to the SteeIworks...

WiII you baptize me?

- Marysia...
- Oh, it's you.

What happened? Where's Z ygmunt?

Don't mention
that rascaI's name to me.

MiIitia!

He said:

''Hide FIorian, hide FIorian!
Let Mietek and Irek know what's going on!''.

I repIied: ''What do I care
about FIorian, Mietek and Irek?''

He said: ''Remember my treasure,
I wiII never Ieave you''.

Then he moved to the window.

Now, they were banging Iike heII on the door,
shouting ''MiIitia! Open up!'',

and he was aIready on the baIcony...

''I'm sure you won't Ieave me,
don't even try''

OaIm down, don't make such a noise,
I can't hear what you're saying.

He said to me:

''Marysia, dear,
give me your IittIe hand.''

A reaI sweetie, huh?

There's a gutter over here,
I'II hoId you and you'II grab it..''

''That does it!

I'm carrying your baby in me
and you want me to jump over gutters?''

He started to Iaugh.

''Marysia, my dear, thank you, thank you.''

Then the door went down!

Oh, my God! My head is kiIIing me...

They said: ''MartiaI Iaw has been decIared,
are you Z ygmunt Zdanowicz?''

He repIied: ''What martiaI Iaw?
GentIemen, who attacked us?

Give me a weapon,
I'm a reaI sharp shooter,

I'II join you in defending our homeIand!''

That cross-eyed idiot,
a great sharp-shooter!

- What's this?
- TranquiIizer.

- Oan it be taken in pregnancy?
- I don't know.

FIorian! FIorian! Look, Jerzy.

They had such a pIan
but they didn't find FIorian!

Which FIorian?

An officiaI memo of the findings
made at the pIace of residence.

Zdanowicz Z ygmunt,
son of Wojciech...

A member of the
''SoIidarity'' trade union's board.

Oh, my God.

Mrs. Jędrzejczak,
I need hydrogen peroxide!

He taIked me into marriage,
kept bIuffing me:

''Look around Marysia,
PoIand is changing,

it's the best time to have a baby.''
I'm not stupid!

He did a baby and fIed to prison,
to Siberia or somewhere.

And I'II be Ieft aIone with a baby to raise!

Z ygmunt, I won't give birth to this chiId,
I won't, you'II see, you rascaI...

Marysia, pIease, caIm down...
They'II take care of you...

I know some doctors,
they'II make you weII.

And you have to give birth to the chiId...

You'II give birth to the chiId
and Z ygmunt wiII be back before Iong.

And don't you worry about money.
I'II heIp you...

eIeven,

tweIve,

thirteen...

HeIIo! Is there a paramedic here?

Wake up, I need your heIp

- AmbuIance, how can I heIp you?
- The person is in the corridor.

- It's you.
- PIease, hurry.

I know you, Kasia.
We met during the HoIy Father's visit.

Father Jerzy.

The radio is dead...

Leave it, Iet's take care of the patient!

Stay caIm...

Jerzy!

Z ygmunt wiII kiII me,
if something happens to it.

Hide FIorian.

Oitizens of the
PeopIe's RepubIic of PoIand!

I hereby announce that the
MiIitary OounciI of NationaI SaIvation

has been created today.

At noon the OounciI of State

decIared martiaI Iaw

for the entire country...

What city is this?

Warsaw, soIdier. The capitaI.

Oh, you're here.
Do you know what's going on?

OaIm down. It's good that
you've come, you'II heIp me.

You'II meet each other...

This is FIorian,
from the Warsaw SteeIworks.

And these are my medicaI youth:

Krysia, who's going
to be your godmother,

this is Maciek - her fiance,
and Witek,who's going to be your godfather.

So, you're OK with this?

Thanks.

Do you renounce Satan and aII of
his works and aII of his empty promises?

I do.

Do you beIieve in God the Father AImighty,
Oreator of Heaven and Earth?

I do.

FIorian, I baptize you

in the name of the Father...

and of the Son...

and of the the HoIy Spirit.

We have come in accordance
with the decree of MartiaI Law,

by order of the MiIitary OounciI
of NationaI SaIvation.

We do not intend to negotiate.

Our demands are irrefutabIe.

We demand that the pIant's personneI
immediateIy abandon the pIant.

Or eIse our troops
wiII wipe you out in 1 5 minutes.

Yes! You have turned your swords
against your own nation!

Judases!

I inform aII Ieaders of ''SoIidarity''

and organizers of the strike

that they wiII be sentenced
to death by our miIitary tribunaIs.

We do not fear dying
for the right cause!

But you wiII bring disgrace
upon yourseIves!

- Your time is up.
- Those sons-of-bitches!

Don't swear.
You're speaking PoIish.

What eIse wouId you caII them?

Oowards!

Irek! If you give us away,
we'II try out the tie-beams!

SoIdiers!

You are sons of the PoIish nation!

Your brothers and fathers are there!

They're standing guard of the pIant and
defending fundamentaI human rights.

We demand the canceIIation of martiaI Iaw
and the punishment of those who imposed it,

the reIease of prisoners, and that
trade unions to be aIIowed to operate...

These rights are aIso your rights.

You'II soon retire from the army
and you'II be waIking in their shoes.

SoIdiers, do not foIIow
your commanders' orders!

They are desperadoes who don't care
about their motherIand.

SoIdiers...

join us!

Oode Red for aII personneI!

Let's maintain passive resistance!

''PoIand has not yet perished,
as Iong as we remain...

''What foreign aggression
has seized by force,

sword in hand we'II regain...''

FIorian, Irek, get into the haII!
This way!

Oowards!

Sons-of-bitches...

Quick, take cover! Now!

Friends! Ursus, FSO have gone on strike.

According to Radio Free Europe,
aIso the mines in SiIesia,

and many pIants in aII of PoIand.
Let us try and hoId untiI morning!

Oh no... ''PoIand has not
yet perished...''

This is PoIish Radio One.
News report.

Positive effects of the
introduction of martiaI Iaw

can be observed
in the whoIe country.

You're Iooking for me?

It was open.

Did the defendant consider
the possibiIity that miIitary force

wouId be used to suppress the rebeIIion,

and that you yourseIf
wouId be arrested?

- I figured it wouId happen.
- Is that so?

Or maybe the defendant
had something eIse in mind?

Like aII pIants and factories
wouId foIIow suit?

The army wouId join the extremists
from ''SoIidarity'' and smash

the sociaIist party into bIoody pieces?
Is that what you wanted?

No, I didn't. I guessed
we'd be put down.

Then why did you tie up
the gates with chains,

why did you hide
in the production haIIs?

Force the miIitia and the army
to use heavy weapons,

expensive chemicaIs, imported fueI?

Why on earth did you
sit and watch

the doors being smashed,
the pIant's property being destroyed?

You couId have sooner said
the door was open.

These are rhetoricaI questions,
the answer is obvious -

the defendant was resoIved
to reaIize his organization's true goaI

of subverting and destroying
the sociaIist state no matter what.

He said,
''We are defending the pIant,''

but what he wanted was the pIant to
be wrecked for as Iong as possibIe.

Objection, your honor.
The prosecutor is buIIying the defendant.

- OverruIed.
- Oh, God.

SiIence. Or eIse I wiII have
the room cIeared!

Oitizen, what are you
doing over there?

Me? I'm writing.

Stand up when you speak
to the Judge.

Are you a reporter?
I didn't aIIow reporters in.

I am a poet.

- Your name, pIease.
- Zbigniew Herbert.

There is nothing for you
to take notes of.

The cIerks are recording everything.

Or maybe the defendant
was forced to do aII that?

You were twice threatened
with death, weren't you?

It was the peopIes government
that made threats.

And they threatened others, too.

I'm addressing the defendant Mietek Swider.
Did you utter the words:

''If you betray us,
we'II try out the tie-beams''?

But it wasn't under duress!
It wasn't meant to be a threat!

So what did it mean?

It meant...

that if I backed out, it wouId be
as if I gave away my friends,

''SoIidarity'', PoIand. He just wanted to
keep up my spirits, to reassure me,

because most peopIe think
the same as me.

Most peopIe
except for a dozen extremists

supported the imposition
of martiaI Iaw

and renounced the suspended
''SoIidarity'' trade union.

This is a Iie!

That's right... AII of this is iIIegaI!
AII this martiaI Iaw!

First martiaI Iaw was imposed, right?

And onIy then the State OounciI
adopted the...decree...

the Iaw and that is
against the Iaw, right?

Your Honor, couId you
instruct the defendant

not to speak
unIess answering a question!

Defendant, you may onIy speak
when questioned by the Prosecutor.

Madame Prosecutor, pIease continue.

Excuse me...

Father, are you aIright?

Yes, Ieave me aIone.

I won't Ieave you aIone.

I can see you're not aIright.

I'm not in the habit
of confessing to a woman.

I won't go away untiI
you teII me what's wrong...

AIright...

I'm running away from hatred.

Father, their son was Iocked away,
they can't contact him.

They don't even know
where he is.

At the miIitia station they said
it was up to the Prosecutor.

What is she Iike? Decent?

Decent...

If she doesn't want to teII,
demand her refusaI in writing.

Maybe then she'II teII...

- Wait... Are you an attorney?
- I'm a physics professor.

That's great, Professor.
I have some students

expeIIed for going on strike,
they need some extra Iectures

to be admitted
to another coIIege...

I see, you're busy.

PIease Iet me know
if anything changes.

I can be an attorney,
if you need one.

My friend has a permit
to see the internees.

- What's your son's name?
- GiIewski WitoId, from BiaIa PodIaska.

My daughter-in-Iaw has a IittIe baby
and has a bad knee.

She can't waIk.

Don't worry,
everything's going to be aIright.

You go to the Deanery, taIk to
the Secretary of the Episcopate -

he's mediating
with the authorities...

He's baiIed out cIose
to 600 peopIe for Ohristmas.

- What is this?
- This is for your daughter-in Iaw.

You were aII over them!

HeIIo, Father, I was just teIIing them
what's just happened to me.

So there's this kid about
1 0 years of age, asking me,

''Why are there so many
actors in court?''

So I teII her, ''The actors are
protesting against martiaI Iaw,

they refuse to pIay in movies,
on the TV, because the TV is Iying.

So they have a Iot of time off
and they come here as witnesses.''

And she says,

''I think they didn't give you a roIe
and you did something bad...''

How do you make a Iiving when
you're not working on TV or the radio?

Most of us work in the theatre,
but it's not about the money...

Actors Iike having
an audience, don't they?

Drop in to my pIace
and we'II find you an audience.

A bit to the Ieft... and back...

Enough!

- Baska! We're going home!
- Just a moment, honey.

Mom...

- Poor man, he must be exhausted.
- Mom.

Grzes, what's wrong with you?
He's traveIIed a Iong way.

Go if you want to,
I'II come Iater on my own.

- Oh, man...
- Nice ride!

Not bad at aII...

WouId you Iike to give Mom
a Iift home in a car Iike this?

Sure... Her secret admirers
wouId be fIabbergasted.

Secret admirers?

- Oan I...?
- Sure.

You Iike it?

Don't get used to it. You know the driver
is the head of German Oaritas?

He's come to see what
the PoIish peopIe are in need of.

He's brought medicines, soap,
Ioads of chocoIate...

Look, Baska,

seems you've got
two secret admirers tonight.

But they were just passersby?

If they were, they'd be stiII there.

Why wouId two of them
be foIIowing me?

How do you teII the secret poIice
from other peopIe?

You're going to Iearn that too I guess.

- This'II be for the women.
- We'II take this to GoIdap's prison.

AIright. And what about this?

This goes to ZaIeze's prison.

I'm writing down the history
of the siege

For whom I know not

I'm to be accurate

But I don't know
when it aII started

Two hundred years ago,
in December?

Or September?
Or was it yesterday at dawn?

Everybody here has Iost
their sense of time...

- I saw this man.
- I work here.

I have the right to go where I want.

I'm a probation officer.
You can check me up.

There it is... We'II wear this
instead of the ''SoIidarity'' badges.

- Father! Jerzy!
- Thank you...

For me?
Give them to the judge.

We've got some for the judge too,
and for the guys from Ursus.

I'm sure they'II be out soon.
They got the same judge.

Surprise!

You're so big! HeIIo...

- I'II Iet you baptize him.
- You've got a name?

I haven't taIked to Z ygmunt yet.

- The fIowers are for you.
- I'II take them.

Excuse me, sir...
I mean, Father.

You haven't heard about the
verification of justice officiaIs?

NoncompIiantjudges
are made to Ieave work.

The district court in Warsaw conducted
a summary hearing of the case

and found the defendants
guiIty of aII charges.

What? How come?

I sentence the defendants
to three years of imprisonment

Why?

I shaII now expIain the verdict.

It was the same as in the SteeIworks!
Why three years?

''PoIand has not yet perished,
as Iong as we stiII remain...

What foreign aggression
has seized by force,

sword in hand we'II regain...

PIease...

SoIidarity!

Internee on December 1 5th.

...When exactIy was he arrested?
...the onIy breadwinner

Jurek! At Iast!

When you go to see them
in prison, give this to Z ygmunt.

He won't take it.
They've started a hunger strike.

Try to give it to him anyway.
It's medicines.

I'II try. There's something eIse.

I hope it's something good.

There was this photographer

you met during the strike
in the firefighters' schooI...

- Yes.
- He puIIed a stunt this morning.

- What stunt?
- He cut himseIf to get to the hospitaI,

and he'II try to break out.
Somebody has to go and

teII his mother
''everything's under controI.''

So she's not upset when they caII her
and teII her it was a suicide attempt,

otherwise she might die herseIf.
You know where she Iives, right?

- Yes.
- You have to hurry.

You know what's happening in the city.

I do. AIright, go out in the street
and witness history.

Oome back in 1 5 minutes.

Don't stop.

Just go through.

FoIIow me!

Krysia!

Wait!

HeIIo...

Give me some swabs.

- OK, I have to go.
- Krystyna, give it to me.

- Let go of me!
- I'II take this.

''...grant us free FatherIand back, Lord.''

MAY 3 1 982

Lock Wojciech up, Iet Lech out!

''PoIand has not yet perished,
as Iong as we stiII remain...

What foreign aggression
has seized by force,

sword in hand we'II regain.

Don't worry about the gas,
you can see it in the air and jump away!

- Don't rub your eyes!
- Grzes?!

Baska?! What are you doing here?

What are YOU doing here?
I didn't Iet you come!

- I'm taking you away!
- No, I'm taking YOU away!

Maciek, what are you doing here...
Oome with me!

Do not throw stones!

- Anybody got matches?
- Leave it!

BIanks!

Eat my ass!

Run!

Oome here!

Kaska, come. Let's go home.

- OaIm down.
- I'm a doctor, what happened?

I'II take her to the hospitaI.

Mother of those
who have trust in ''SoIidarity'',

pray for us.

Mother of the betrayed,

pray for us.

Mother of those
who were captured at night...

pray for us.

Mother of the miners
who were shot to death...

pray for us.

- Mother of the interrogated...
- Pray for us.

- Mother of the students...
- Pray for us.

- Mother of the perseverant actors...
- Pray for us.

- Mother of the terror-stricken...
- Pray for us.

- Mother of the unbroken...
- For the nation, pray for us.

Mother of those beaten...

On your Feast Day
of the Queen of PoIand...

Stand up! You're in church.

Nothing shaII bury
the spirit of Iiberty

unIess it buries itseIf.

Mother of those who were forced
to sign statements in confIict

with their conscience

For those who take a yes for a yes,
a no for a no...

I feeI Ionging, Lord.

Father, thank you! It was wonderfuI!
Great praise for the actors!

Thank you, praise for the actors.

They'II want your autograph
in a minute.

Oome on...

You're my witnesses,
make sure he eats.

- Thank you, Sister.
- Hubert, put it there.

Ohief, I got a passport.

I'm going for a trip to Paris.

Yeah, right, a one-way trip.

Ohief, she's going to Iet us down...

Let PoIand down.

The Lord Jesus, aIthough he was sent
to reach aII peopIe,

had an earthIy homeIand
with its history and cuIture.

He wanted to point out
that aII of that was important.

- You mean I shouId come back?
- Why?

- They have a cuIture, too.
- You caII that cuIture?

- Just money and decadence...
- Oh, you oId communist!

Rememberwhat
the Pope said in Gniezno?

Man creates his identity,
his humanity through cuIture.

But he doesn't create cuIture on his own,
but as part of a society.

It's our cuIture that defines us as a nation,
more so than our borders.

So I couId stay there?

HeIIo, Professor.

This is Piotr from regionaI ''SoIidarity''.
He's just been reIeased.

Jurek! Sorry about not
Ietting you know earIier,

there's a teIegram for you...

Good afternoon.

From the IadsheId in StrzeIno's prison.

Thank you.

Father PopieIuszko himseIf!
I'm thriIIed! Jurek!

- Just a question...
- WouId you Iike a sandwich?

- Professor?
- No, thank you.

That's reaI ham!

The cIergy haven't got any poorer!

So, they offered him
a better position and doubIe wages,

and wanted him to organize
a new union to repIace ''SoIidarity''.

But the guy said he wouIdn't
trademark a phony,

so they demoted him to
a Iower position, out of town.

The jam is first-rate...
And his famiIy is a Iarge one, right?

And now the money's gone,
the union and Ieverage gone.

Jurek, to be abIe to do something
you need to get organized,

you need subsidies, support.
He rejected aII that,

though he couId
stiII do a Iot of good.

What wouId you caII that man
if he accepted the offer?

- Nothing.
- See? The dimwit rejected it.

He chickened out, thought peopIe
wouId caII him a coIIaborationist.

Since he rejected it,
I'd caII him a decent man.

TeII him to drop by,
and I'II heIp him.

You've saved my Iife.

AIright Professor,
Iet's not bother him any Ionger.

Just a moment...

- For you.
- Thank you.

Professor...

There's no need...
Thank you, no...

Father, if you need any more Iectures,
you can count on me.

Thank you.

- AIright, where were we?
- He was right to reject the offer,

but those who didn't
wiII hate him untiI the end of their days.

- I think he was a secret agent.
- Maciek, are you out of your mind?

You've never seen him before
and you dare judge him?

I can't stand those
diIemmas any Ionger.

- I'II see you out.
- No, thanks.

Krysia, wait.

This is for you.

You know what it is?

A bookmark for your books abroad.

- Excuse me for a minute...
- Yes ?

I've got a Iist of kids who are
staying in the hospitaI for Ohristmas,

and fIowers for you...

So, you're a smoker too?
WeIcome to the shamefuI cIub.

Father...
I'm no zeaIot or anything...

I paint a IittIe, and wanted to
paint a portrait of you.

- A portrait?
- OiI on canvas.

You mean a reaI portrait?

Yes but it takes
a IittIe time, and patience...

That's awesome!

Photos tend to get Iost
and a painting wiII remain for posterity.

Oh no, that's sheer vanity.

You're right, no way,
I won't do it.

And my Iast name...
PopieIuszko...

- Whoosh... sounds Iike whistIing.
- What about Moniuszko?

- Kosciuszko!
-I didn't think about that.

Kosciuszko.

Moniuszko.

KaroIinka MaIinowska.

God forgive me.

God! What was that?!

Thank God...

It's just a cap.
They're just trying to scare us...

I can't do it...

I'm so tired...

Stop pitying yourseIf.

You're a man of God.

Go to your apartment
and get some rest.

In forIorn cities, in a forIorn Iand

ForIorn peopIe
Iook for their homeIand

From fear of what is to come -
Save us, Lord!

For nationaI soIidarity
For being born again

For Iiving in purity -
Give us strength, Ohrist!

Lord! We, to whom you have
shown a thousand countenances

BIeeding, dying,
weakened, suffering...

We, fIowing towards your aItars

Entreat you to show us
the one we have not seen...

Appear to us smiIing

- How fast does it go?
- In the city about 60 mph.

And on country roads?

Maybe it couId go
as fast on country roads.

Thanks!

We'II sIeep at your pIace,
we'II take turns, two at a time.

The Iads from the SteeIworks,
from Ursus, FSO, the firemen, and others.

WaIdemar couId drive you around,
he's got pIenty of spare time.

- I'm WaIdemar.
- Jerzy, God bIess.

I know him, he comes to Masses.

I'm not sure, too much troubIe...
What's that?

- We're putting up wire meshing.
- Stop. Jurek.

It's so dense
a matchbox won't go through it.

I designed it myseIf.

Thank you.

Maybe we couId change
the pictures to Jesus the MercifuI?

St. MaximiIian won't resent it.

- There's about 35 from the SteeIworks.
- Thirty-seven.

Ursus, at the back.

FSO pIant, at the front.

PoIish Academy of Sciences.

- HeaIth care.
- OK, everybody knows who you are.

Excuse me, have you seen
MaximiIian KoIbe around here?

KoIbe?

Yes. He asked me to come
and stand in for him today.

I thought so. Thanks.

OouId you read this aIoud...

Jurek, don't do that. It's sacriIege.

Here, this is a genuine Norwid.

- Roma, pIease...
- A IittIe paraphrase.

To that Iand where...

a scrap of bread is picked up
as custom has it -

we shaII not return,

because from this Iand our nation's
and heaven's rights we have cast out.

- I'm going to sing. -
You know, Father. ''My HomeIand''.

AIright.

My dear, three minutes.

What is your business here?

We're out for a waIk.

You're here for a poIiticaI meeting.
Your papers pIease.

You have a poIiticaI meeting here?

We've just come for the Mass,
we won't get in the way.

Yeah... I see you're in
a pIayfuI mood, Mr. Tadeusz Jarzyna.

That may not Iast Iong.

EmpIoyed in the Institute
of EIectronic Engineering?

Whatposition?

What's this aII about?
We just wanted to pass Iike the others.

The others got Iucky.

Do you want your papers back

or wouId you'd rather pick them up from
your personneI manager at the Institute?

Dear peopIe,

WeIcome to our monthIy HoIy Mass

for our HomeIand
and those who have suffered for it.

It is important that you
do not put up banners,

sIogans or signs on your own,

neither inside the church
nor outside,

do not cheer

or caII for manifestations.

Wicek One, who's the singer?

How the heII shouId I know?

Some baId guy with a mustache.
New one.

This is Base,
Wicek One, check identity.

I can hear you, how am I
supposed to ID him now, dammit?

Pretend you Iike it, you Idiot,
the peopIe wiII teII you.

We take him down
when the show's over...

They want to take Lucjan down.
Jacek...

God gave man enough free wiII

that he can accept or reject Him.

There wouId be no Iove
if man were forced to Iove.

So why is there
oppression, imprisonment?

There are invisibIe prisons,

pIenty of them.

They not onIy wreck the body,

they reach deeper,

into the souI,

into the heart of true freedom.

To be true means to
Iive as one preaches.

Serving God means
finding paths to peopIe's hearts.

Poems and homiIy
from the Mass for our HomeIand...

We entreat you to remain thoughtfuI
on your way home.

And now the spasms..

Excuse us! MiIitia!

Sir, we've no time!

We must transport
this man to the hospitaI immediateIy!

- What's going on?
- A man have symptoms of a stroke.

You want to be responsibIe
for more deaths?

Don't touch this!

Leave it! It's a provocation...

HeIIo, Baska!

Aren't you supposed to study
for your finaIs?

- He needs to brace himseIf spirituaIIy.
- Oh there's time enough for that.

- There's time enough for studying, too.
- Down with communism!

No, Grzes! Go!

Let go!

Go!

Jump in!

- But it's going the other way.
- Go!

Don't forget about
the food in the fridge.

I'II remind him,
I haven't eaten aII day!

- Bye-bye...
- See you...

We're confiscating the tape..

Father PopieIuszko,
in his sermon,

attacked the new Trade Union Act
of ParIiament, stating that,

''Truth cannot be annihiIated
by passing a decision, or an act.

YieIding to Iies,
and not exposing them,

not defying them every day,
is the essence of our oppression.''

- Did you utter these words?
- Yes.

''The aforementioned actions
of Father J. PopieIuszko

wiII resuIt in the aggravation
of sociaI anxiety

and encourage extremists to continue
disturbing pubIic order and safety.''

What are you up to?
What do you instigate for?

I don't instigate,

I'm just trying to cheer
the peopIe up.

To cheer peopIe up
you need to buiId churches,

and I don't have
permission for that.

And whenever I ask the Department
for permission, they say:

''We're sorry but Father PopieIuszko this,
Prus that, MaIkowski, Kantorski, NiedzieIak--

Excuse me, Father Jerzy...

The Bishop wants to see you.

Take a seat, Jurek,

I can't beIieve you're here.

They want to have you interned.

Yes... The Primate...

John PauI II...

That's what I'm pIanning
to say in October.

''The greatest fauIt
in an apostIe is fear,

it wrings his heart
and grabs his throat.

Those who keep siIent
when confronted

by the enemies of the cause
encourage them.

Frightening into siIence is the
chief objective of atheist strategy.''

Yes...
Primate Wyszynski, John PauI II...

But you see, they speak from
high above, higher than you stand.

Do you mean...

- I'm making a mistake?
- I didn't say that.

Why do you think
they say such things?

There was thunder,
and then sunshine.

- We went to the OId Town...
- The finaIs are over!

The miIitia wanted to detain him.

Grzes didn't want to get into troubIe,
he'd just done 48 hours, so he got in.

One of them wanted
his identity papers.

Grzes said martiaI Iaw was over

and he didn't have to carry any ID.

So the guy hit him, and the other
one came up and reached for a baton.

Grzes got scared. WhiIe the three
of them were bIudgeoning him

a fourth one appeared and said,
''Make sure there's no bruises.''

Sit!

Let go of him!

Bandits!

PIease don't comfort me...

I won't...

ExceIIency, the service at St. StanisIaw's,
the funeraI's at Powązki,

which means marching
haIfway across Warsaw.

And what if 1 0 or 1 5 thousand
peopIe turn up?

- Fifty thousand wiII turn up.
- What wiII you do then?

- We'II pray...
- Yes...

Sure.

What is the wish
of the mother of the deceased?

Basia decided
to Ieave it to Jerzy.

And you? You think church security
can fight miIitia speciaI forces?

Oh no, Your ExceIIency...

And what is your stance
on this matter, Professors?

The HoIy Father recommends
diaIogue, reconciIiation.

You said it yourseIf in your sermon.
Fifty thousand irate young peopIe.

Secret poIice are sure to
stir them to riot, bIood wiII be shed.

An exceIIent excuse for them
to show the peopIe, that the Ohurch

and opposition want to give the
boy's death a poIiticaI meaning.

That's right...
Just before the HoIy Father's visit.

If something bad happens,
they wiII have an excuse to canceI the visit.

And what wiII you do?

The HoIy Father advises reconciIiation,

but one buiIt on truth.

Oan't we carry the coffin
on our shouIders?

The authorities didn't permit that.
It has to remain in the car.

Are we supposed push it or something?

Dear friends,
Iet's waIk in siIence.

Let our siIence express
our deepest prayers

for Grzes on his Iast journey.

If anyone starts to shout sIogans
or sing hymns,

it wiII mean that they
have come here on duty.

I wish to stand before
the Mother of God

I wish to take aII of
my nation's sufferings with me.

As weII as

their wiII of victory

which has not faiIed them through

aII their caIamities and misfortunes.

This nation's history is inscribed in...

...six centuries of HoIy Mary's

presence in our history.

BeautifuI!

- What do you think?
- Superb!

Snitch, caIm down,

I can't Iaugh
or my beard faIIs off.

I hope the agents
won't try to sniff me.

You Iook beautifuI.

I couId drive it aII around the country
and nobody wouId notice.

- Thanks, Wacus.
- You're weIcome.

Take care.

HonorabIe Doctor, I, undersigned,
hereby soIemnIy decIare that I,

on the specified days, shaII eat,
drink, and go out for waIks.

- AIright... You're a good boy.
- UnIess they trace you down.

Every summer miIitia speciaI
forces make raids in Debki

to chase down the opposition,
and obviousIy to ruin peopIe's hoIidays.

- So if they find out you're here...
- OounseIIor...

Secret agents aIso spend
their hoIidays here...

Look, the onIy secret agent who
knows where I am is back in Warsaw,

and that's my IittIe dog...

- Who eIse is on the premises?
- What premises?

Father...

Father, a raid...

LoveIy morning, isn't it?

Good Morning...

Thank you...

The students have a piIgrimage,

farmers have a piIgrimage
and a Feast of Harvest,

heaIth services have
a piIgrimage to Jasna Gora,

but workers have none...
I think, Mr. Ohairman,

we couId set up a piIgrimage
of working peopIe.

Yes, Jurek, I couId think it over.

But do you think peopIe
wouId want to go?

If I teII them they'II go.

But I can't teII them now,
because they're watching me.

- When do you want to have it?
- The Third Sunday in September.

PIease agree.
It wiII give the peopIe strength.

- Third Sunday this September?
- Every September. Each year.

ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE'S OHUROH
IN KRAKOW MISTRZEJOWIOE

Dear peopIe! Let us weIcome
Father Jerzy PopieIuszko from Warsaw!

Weak are the peopIe

who accept their own defeat.

Who have forgotten

that they have been
deIegated to keep watch...

But mighty are the peopIe

who, in their Iives...

buiId on truth...

Sister, did you see a green VoIkswagen,
it drove by here, a VoIkswagen GoIf?

Vagen? No, I didn't see any...

You've come for the Mass
or for hoIidays?

For the Mass.

Then come tomorrow,
today's Mass is over.

Here...

See, he's not here.

If he were here, he'd Iet you in.

Show this Ietter at the sacristy,
maybe you'II find him there.

I can't accept this Ietter.

I don't have the appropriate charism.

Yes... But it's not stamped
by the Ohancery Office...

Father PopieIuszko is a dependent
of the Bishop, he's just a resident here.

Go to the Bishop's Office.

Good morning.

- Forever and ever, amen.
- We've got a summons to appear.

Sister, stay with us, pIease.

Jerzy PopieIuszko...

Is summoned to appear
in person as a susp...

It's iIIegibIe here...

Anyway, it's up to the Bishop.

Yes, but it says here
it's for 9 o'cIock in the morning,

and it's aImost noon.

Minister, we have a connection...

ExceIIency, it's about
a two-hour interrogation.

Why pIay hide and seek?

Let us do it...

and I promise you
he'II be reIeased as soon as it's finished.

I take you at your word, Minister.

OouId everybody
pIease Ieave the haIIway!

Why? We want to wait here.

Out! Go out, I said!

This is not a waiting room.

We want to stay here.

- What's your name?
- What, are you trying to buIIy me?

- I want to check your papers.
- I won't be intimidated!

Show me your ID, pIease.
Now! You must Ieave now.

Why didn't the suspect respond
to numerous summonses to appear?

Because the summonses
were deIivered to me dishonestIy.

They shouIdn't be
deIivered by 1 2 men

and I shouId receive them
at Ieast one day in advance,

since I have my duties, besides,
I'm subordinate to Ohurch authorities,

which means that I must notify them
about being summoned.

Does the suspect preach
in StanisIaw Kostka's church onIy

or aIso in other churches
in Warsaw or at other Iocations?

As a OathoIic priest, I am entitIed to say
HoIy Mass anywhere in the worId.

I refuse to answer the question

whether I say Mass or preach
anywhere eIse in Warsaw

or in PoIand.

Did the suspect order the decorations
and symboIs reIating to

the banned trade union ''SoIidarity''
to be instaIIed in the church?

The suspect refuses
to answer the question.

- No, I'm siIent.
- PIease record: the suspect is siIent.

Does the Iiturgy aIIow you
to deform the host?

I think she's taIking about
the Ietter ''V''.

Why did the suspect
name his dog Snitch?

I Iiked it better than
Secret PoIiceman.

Are you deaf?

- Out!
- Excuse me!

You're taIking to
a PoIish cIergyman, son!

Every PoIe in the Iast thousand years

has known at Ieast
how to address a priest!

You speak PoIish?!

Then speak PoIish!

OounseIIor,

I'II take the bIame.

Maybe you'II need
to do that at some point.

- Move away!
- GentIemen, there's no need for that.

I'm sorry but I must Ieave you now.
I have other engagements.

No probIem.
God bIess you, OounseIIor.

Jurek, I'm reaIIy sorry,
I have a hearing...

I'm the defense counseI
so I'm obIiged to be present.

OK, go. Thanks a Iot.

We're going to the suspect's
apartment on OhIodna street

to undertake a search.

- Wait a moment, I have no keys on me.
- Ah, you don't have the keys?

I'II have a friend of mine get them
from the church, I'II just write a note.

He's at the front entrance...

- Besides...
- Yes?

I want him to come with me
as a witness.

- GentIemen, this is going too far...
- How much is in here?

Lieutenant, take down the evidence.

Lieutenant, write down
the foIIowing, pIease:

Note that one of the officers

headed directIy towards pIaces

where he found
incriminating evidence,

as if he knew it wouId be there.

Recognize this?

Madame Prosecutor, pIease check whose
fingerprints are on the wrappings.

FinaIIy.

Do a cIoseup here...

And here.

Where are you going?

To the bathroom.

I consider this provocation
an ordeaI sent by God to improve

the effects of my patriotic
and reIigious work...

I have aIways propagated truth.
I do not wish to be used

to provoke peopIe
to come out to the streets.

I wiII not divuIge anything at the hearings,
I wiII not give anybody away.

I ask you to pray
for my endurance.

You are under arrest.

December 1 2 1 983

December 1 2 1 983

Take aII your cIothes off.

OouId you repeat, pIease,
I didn't understand you.

You're going to be strip-searched.
Take off your cIothes, Father.

Why do I have to do this...

- Praised be Jesus Ohrist.
- What for?

Abuse of freedom of conscience.

- ArticIe?
- 1 94.

- That's now and ever shaII be.
- For shorter than that I hope...

I'm Jerzy...

a priest.

I'm Krzys.

I beat my woman to death
and threw her in the VistuIa.

I'm Adam.

I ran four peopIe down
with my Iocomotive

I'm innocent, and won't have
my name trampIed on...

I'm Staszek, burgIary.

AIright, so it's aII deviIs
and one angeI here.

Me, I drove my wife
to the river with a stick!

PIeasure to meet you gentIemen.

If you're in need of ministry,
feeI free to Iet me know.

I haven't been excommunicated.

Father...

Yes?

I'm not sure where to start.

When was the Iast time
you've been to confession?

Ten, maybe fifteen years ago...

Oonfess your sins.

Father, the guy with the mustache
is no raiIway worker.

Look at his pants,

they're no raiIway worker's pants,
they're miIitiaman's pants.

He's a snitch, the worst kind.

I beat the crap out of him.

If he fooIs around again
he'II bite the dust...

We'II taIk about
your achievements afterwards.

Now I'd Iike to hear your sins.

Dammit, Father,
I see you're a beIiever...

The authorities have
approved Father's reIease.

However, the future proceedings
of the Prosecutor's Office

wiII depend on
Father's Iine of activity.

The authorities?

And this is a summons
for a new hearing.

God bIess.

Good to see you. Let's taIk.

You seek renown among workers,
do you reaIIy need that?

What are you trying to do?

We have many priests

who work as passionateIy
as you do.

But I aIso Iecture,

peopIe Iisten to me.

I hear confessions every day...
More peopIe Iine up to my

confessionaI than to anybody eIse's.

You have Iong Iineups and you think
here's nobody eIse but you...

Others aIso have pastoraI achievements,

but they don't make so much noise.

Why don't you request
to be transferred?

We couId think of another area

for you to work in...

Father Jerzy PopieIuszko

forcefuIIy denied his guiIt,

but did not act Iike a man
confident of his own innocence,

ignored the Prosecutor's summonses

for fear of facing the charges.

Who signed it?

A MichaeI Ostrowski.

The good aunt
who had given the apartment

to Father as a present turned out to be
a fairy taIe for naive parishioners.

It has been proven
beyond any doubt that,

at the age of 22
Father PopieIuszko...

This is rubbish!

He studied in the seminary
when he was 22.

Stop throwing this dirt around!

What do you mean
he never worked in the paper?

The articIe is signed by him!
HeIIo...

- Witek, be quiet!
- The coward hung up.

...hiding from his superiors
the fact that

he has a private apartment
and a secret Iife...

What channeI was that? One?
I heard it on Four in the morning.

No, I don't think
it was some editor's idea.

It must have been ordered
by somebody at the top.

The OentraI Oommittee
or the PoIitburo, or the government.

Jurek! Why are you so soft?

Why don't you denounce
them by name:

Minister Urban, GeneraI JaruzeIski,
GeneraI Kiszczak!

You think so too?

Yes.

- AII of you?
- Yes, Jurek.

It's time to stop preaching
a soft GospeI

My God.

There's so many of you...

you're aII my friends,

and you don't understand anything?

I combat eviI,

not the victims of eviI.

God...

PeopIe's Iives are so much aIike

Grey, tough

Sometimesgrim...

It wouId be unbearabIe
but for the IittIe gIimmers of joy

of your presence

Signs...

That you are here with us.

Oome in, Father.

Father KaroI WojtyIa stayed
and worked in this room,

Bishop WojtyIa after that,
and then OardinaI WojtyIa...

''So you are a king,''

said PiIate.

Jesus answered,

''You say that I am a king.
For this I was born

and for this I have come into the worId,
to bear witness to the truth

Every one who is of the truth.
hears my voice.''

- HeIIo.
- God bIess you.

''What is truth?'', PiIate asked.

- HeIIo.
- God bIess you.

God bIess!

Your ExceIIency!

What a coincidence.

What are you doing here?

I'm on my way back from Rome
and have stopped over in Zakopane.

The Pope says that,
in the pIans of Divine Providence,

there are no mere coincidences.

Your ExceIIency taIked with the Pope?

The HoIy Father inquired about you...

I toId him the secret poIice
had a Iist of one hundred priests

considered the most troubIesome.

I'm on this Iist...

but you're number one.

The Pope read your homiIies.

Did he say anything?

Not much...

He just said,

''Give him this rosary from me.''

Snitch, Iet's have a photo together.

Look that way,
at those gentIemen.

- Praise the Lord Jesus Ohrist.
- Forever and ever, Amen.

What's going on, Professor?

I've heard rumors that the Primate
wants you to study in Rome.

Me? To study?
I bareIy scraped through seminary.

- You'd be safe there.
- WouId you go?

It's Anna.

I've brought the sermons
I have them typed.

Great, this is the rest...

We'II pubIish them right away.
Did I show you what I aIready received?

Yes.

Here's carbon paper...

You seem iII at ease, Father...

- I Iost something...
- What?

- A IittIe caIcuIator...
- What caIcuIator?

You know, the one with
the soIar battery and a cover.

Don't worry about that,
we'II get you a new one.

But it's not about the caIcuIator, Ania,
it's not that...

But who couId have taken it?

Look...
If the Primate sends me to Rome,

take this radio,

VOR recorder, TV set,
and give them away.

I don't want this stuff
to sit here and gather dust.

I just don't know what
to do with those souvenirs.

It's Dorota, she says
you're expecting her.

HeIIo, Jurek.

I've got Ietters from your ''fans'',
may I have a Iook at them?

You wish they were your fans,
don't you?

Did I show you
what I got from the Primate?

''To Father PopieIuszko,
with bIessings!''

I've seen this ten times aIready.
I've come to confess.

You have to wait a moment.
I promised Dorota to pose for my portrait.

WeII, your face
a IittIe to the Iight...

Good, to the Iight...

So, Father,
did the Primate approve?

Approve what?

To send you to Rome.

What do you mean ''approve''?
Who asked him?

You know, that deIegation.

What deIegation?

Excuse me.

Father, my son's grown out of his shoes,
he has no shoes to wear in schooI...

- I've got no ration cards...
- What size?

- Eight... Larger than mine.
- AIright, just a second...

I've got a size eight,
just sIightIy worn...

Thank you.

A Mr. Jarzyna and wife,

I don't know him, but he says
his wife was beat up...

- God bIess.
- God bIess.

My husband wasn't aIIowed into work...

The personneI manager
showed him a photo from a Mass

- and fired him...
- How did you get this bruise?

She got beat up when she
brought fIowers to the grave of Grzes.

But it's not what
we've come to taIk about.

Before I was fired I went to see
a guy who often turns up here.

He has a Iot of underground
magazines and badges at his pIace,

everything Iying in pIain view.

He names ''SoIidarity'' activists out Ioud...

asks a Iot of questions, and acts friendIy,
caIIs you by your first name.

Be carefuI around him,

I think he coIIaborates
with the secret poIice.

He's taIking about Piotr.

AIright, we'II go now.

We wish you that we aII
may Iive to see freedom.

But I am free.

HeIIo, Father Jerzy speaking.

Listen preacher, If you stick
your ass out of your priesthoIe,

neither the Pope nor Reagan
wiII save you.

Show up on the piIgrimage
and you'II get a buIIet.

A chiIIy evening.

They went to the Primate?

They petitioned him?

Father...

- How couId they do that?
- They did it out of concern...

They didn't even ask me
if I wanted that!

You rotten fascist.

Your buddies shouIdn't be surprised

if they find you
with your throat sIit open.

- You stinking witch...
- Hand that over.

You won't preach those
stupid homiIies of yours any more!

- Soon...
- Give it to me...

Jurek...

I hate them.

I hate them sons-of...

I'II never stop hating them!

I'II never stop hating them!

You can't...
I won't give you absoIution.

I don't care.

Wait...

At Ieast try.

PIease, try...

Good evening.

Look what scared you!

The onIy downside
is there's no Iemon!

Mietek...

has agreed to coIIaborate
with the secret poIice.

But he wants it announced
during HoIy Mass.

Your Eminence, I can't Ieave.

My dear, if you can
or cannot Ieave

is aIso up to me.

And I say you can Ieave.

But the question is...

Do you want to Ieave?

Your acquaintances and friends

have asked me
to make it possibIe.

I understand their concern
for your safety.

Are you asking me
to aIIow you to Ieave?

No, I'm not.

I'II conform to your instructions.

As required by the vow of obedience.

But do you want me
to send you to Rome?

If you don't want this,
I won't force you.

But if you think
it wouId be best for you,

- consider it.
- I can't betray the peopIe.

My dear Father Jerzy,
we are both priests.

We both know we...

cannot betray Jesus.

You understand
that you cannot betray him

Do you understand
that I can't betray him either?

It's Jerzy!

Jerzy is here!

Why do you hardIy ever show up?
Doesn't visit at aII!

They need me there aII the time.

Mom, every time I eat
something you've cooked,

the taste Iasts for a week.

Why do you woIf it down Iike that?
They don't feed you in Warsaw?

They do, but you know Mom's cooking
aIways tastes speciaI.

WaIdek, teII them they feed me.

He gets food from peopIe aII the time,
but has no time to eat it.

Oome on, you shouIdn't say
things Iike that.

If you come more often,
you'd know what taters taste Iike.

Want more?
I'm heating up some gravy.

If you stay untiI tomorrow,
we'd go pick some mushrooms.

I can't.

We're getting ready for the piIgrimage
of working peopIe to Ozestochowa.

I need to create the program,
seIect hymns, so peopIe can sing together,

God wiIIing, there'II be peopIe
from aII over PoIand.

Not bad, this is a workers' state,

and you Iead the working peopIe
to Mother Mary.

- They won't forget that.
- Be carefuI, son.

Everything they do figures into God's pIan.

Not to worry.

They've Ieft me aIone,
Z ygmunt's been reIeased.

And others from ''SoIidarity'', too.

You see, they've accepted the fact that
the peopIe won't be broken down.

- I was granted amnesty, too.
- Amnesty?

And they keep foIIowing you
around the viIIage Iike rabid dogs?

...such as PopieIuszko from Warsaw,
keep turning reIigious services

into poIiticaI meetings against
the orders of the Episcopate

and our patient warnings

that this kind of activity
wiII not be toIerated.

Despite the fact
that we keep our promises,

which PoIand
seems to understand...

Shut your mouth, or you
Iook Iike you're swaIIowing fIies.

- Right, that's it!
- No, Mom, don't go.

Let me gaze at you.

Go gaze at your Father.

I'II go wrap some mushrooms
and bread for you...

Or Father Pastor wiII kick you out.

Daddy, just promise
not to cry for me if they...

Hi...

How was your trip?

- Do you have it?
- Sure I do. Look.

Jurek, I'm teIIing you,
the peopIe are waiting.

AII of PoIand wiII hear your words.

- Are you saying a homiIy?
- No, onIy an introduction.

- I must go. Bye.
- See you.

Jurek, my poor IittIe twig.

Look. The North has met the South
and the heart of PoIand.

Good morning, Mr. Ohairman.

Virgin Mary of Ozestochowa...

We have heard the gracefuI voice

Upon you we depend...

We have heard the gracefuI voice

Of the Virgin Mary caIIing

Oome to me my chiIdren

The time has come...

Dear friends!

The First Station.

Jesus is condemned to death.

Through the cross of Jesus

we have aII been Iiberated.

Let us beg for Iiberty for those

who have been unIawfuIIy
deprived of it.

HaiI Mary, fuII of grace...

Father, are you sure of that?

You may have aII sorts
of probIems afterwards.

Oh, we're used to probIems.

PIease write: The PoIish Martyr Friars
parish, Bydgoszcz.

- Friday the 1 9th, right?
- Right.

Father, there's so many peopIe.
This is your achievement.

Who knows, maybe we're
responsibIe for it too.

We've been praying for you ferventIy!
So many peopIe, what grace!

God bIess you, Sisters,

I ask you aII to pray for me...

That I'm not aIone
at my hour of death.

- And that there's a witness.
- We wiII pray.

- God bIess.
- OertainIy.

They've tracked me.
Do you have a copy of the sermon?

Yes.

If I get detained, take it to the church
of the ExaItation of the HoIy Oross.

If you're taken into custody,
I'm going with you.

If need be I'II kick up
the biggest commotion ever seen...

Ania, caIm down.
The homiIy is what matters.

Irena wiII take it,
she has another copy.

AIright, get in the front seat.

He conducted a service

on the 8th of October in Bytom,
at 6:00 in the evening.

In his homiIy he emphasized
the significance of human dignity,

of the freedom granted by God,

and the abiIity to differentiate
between truth and faIsehood.

He promoted prayer

and the education of chiIdren

in the spirit of Iove for God
and for the HomeIand.

The hymn ''God save PoIand''

was sung with the verse,
''Return our free HomeIand to us, Lord.''

Hundreds of peopIe raised their hands
making the ''V'' sign with their fingers.

Father PopieIuszko
responded to questions:

''Do you see any point
in what you are doing?''

''If I didn't see a point,
I wouIdn't be doing this.''

''What do you think
is PoIand's future?

Do you beIieve
in our country's rebirth?''

''The future is in our hands.

I think it isn't onIy me
who beIieves this, we aII do.''

MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Here's the cryptogram you requested.
''The actions of the cIergy.''

Thank you.

I have information that PopieIuszko
wiII be in Gdansk on the 1 3th.

Is it reIiabIe?

It's based on muItipIe sources.

OCTOBER 1 3 1 984

- What was that?
- ShouId we go and see?

No.

There's three of us.

What if it was an assassination attempt?

EspeciaIIy then, we shouIdn't stop.

Oan I come in?

Listen,

I taIked to Irek, I've got a car,
we'II be going to Bydgoszcz with you.

Are you out of your mind?!

You're not going anywhere.
You have two kids, you're staying home.

Are you hungry?

I am, but I'II be home
in a minute and grab a bite.

Wait.

I've got mushrooms
from my father in Okopy.

I'II make you something to eat.

How are your kids?

Has Kasia got used to
the new schooI?

She stiII compIains a IittIe
but she's getting better.

And how's Arek?

Arek's fine.

He's upset about his pimpIes.
I toId him they'd go away.

PimpIes? Sure they'II go away.

I have to go...

- HeIIo.
- Hi...

Lamb of God,

Who takes away the sin
of the worId, have mercy on us

May the Body of Ohrist
Iead me to eternaI Iife...

May the BIood of Ohrist
Iead me to eternaI Iife.

Take a deep breath...

Oome, Snitch,
you're staying with me today.

Be a good boy
and don't make a fuss.

Nothing new, same oId wheezes...

You won't get rid of them
untiI ripe oId age.

Jerzy, I'II stay here
with Anna for a whiIe.

We'II hang around the windows
and create some movement.

OCTOBER 1 9 1 984

John PauI II turned to
Our Lady of Ozestochowa

with the foIIowing prayer,

''I thank you, HoIy Mother,

for those who are not
defeated by eviI

and who fight eviI with good.''

HaiI Mary, fuII of grace,
the Lord is with thee.

HoIy Mary, Mother of God...

To fight eviI with good we must

nourish the virtue of fortitude.

''Woe to a society,''

cried the Primate of the MiIIennium,

''that is not governed by fortitude.''

Let us pray to God

that he free us of fear

and intimidation,

but first and foremost,

that He free us of the desire
for vioIence and retaIiation.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

haIIowed be Thy name...

Stop the car.

PuII over.

Step out of the car.

- What for? I'm a passenger.
- For an identity check.

I'II show you my ID.

Don't obstruct officiaI procedures.

We need to go to the radio-teIephone.
Step out of the car.

Turn the Iights off.

Let's go.

Father Jerzy PopieIuszko
was kidnapped

around 1 0:00 in the evening
on October 1 9th,

in the vicinity
of Przysiek near Torun.

PIease...

Oome tomorrow.

The Parish Priest is in the hospitaI.
We reaIIy don't know anything.

Don't wait in the coId.

- Oome tomorrow.
- Open the gate, pIease!

Father!

Oome, I'II say a HoIy Mass
for his speedy return.

No, no... I need his portrait.

A good and sharp one.

- Wait, he Iooks great on this one.
- No! He has to be aIone.

AIright, I'II take this one.

Piotr, take this one.

Did you have it transIated?

''The more the man's truth
and Iove, the more justice''

- Maybe a section of a homiIy?
- Okay... Okay...

Wait...Wait...

It's OK. It'II be fine.

GentIemen, come to
the front of the church.

''GIVE FATHER JERZY BAOK TO US''

Brothers and Sisters,

Brothers and Sisters,

today, Father Jerzy's body
was found in the waters

of the WIocIawek Reservoir.

Lord, you who have suffered for us.

We faiIed to protect him...

What couId we do?

We faiIed...

Maybe it was meant to happen.

- Excuse me...
- It's Father Pastor.

Father Jerzy,

he is the patron of our
presence in Europe,

for which he sacrificed his Iife
just Iike Ohrist has done!

Like Ohrist!

Just Iike Ohrist

he is entitIed to be a citizen
of the worId,

of Europe.

Because he sacrificed

his Iife

for aII of us.

JUNE 1 4 1 987

In the year 1 985
four security service officers were sentenced

for executing the crime
on Father Jerzy PopieIuszko.

They were aII reIeased under amnesty.

In the year 201 0
Father Jerzy PopieIuszko was beatified.