Wyszynski - zemsta czy przebaczenie (2021) - full transcript

Puszcza Kampinoska, a large forest
around ten miles from Warsaw.

It saw fierce fights
of Warsaw Uprising.

Local partisans, Grupa Kampinos,
were a Home Army 3000-strong unit.

Lieutenant Wyszyński, one of
3 chaplains in the unit,

a Catholic priest with
"Radwan III" alias.

Wyszyński also served as a chaplain
of the insurgents' hospital in Laski,

set up and run by
a nun - Mother Czacka.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY

I found him in the woods.

What's the matter with him?

His leg!
He lost a lot of blood.



Why is there a war waged
in the very heart of nature?

Why does nature stand
against itself?

The earth struggles against the sea.

Could some vindictive force
exist in nature?

Is death the only way out?

How to forgive the enemy?

Someone who is hurting you?

Do you have to go to war
to find forgiveness?

Warring with yourself?

I guess we'll need
to go to town, won't we?

Thank you Kasia.
I'll get the wet washing.

I'll finish the dry clothes.

- Hello lads.
- Hi Kasia.

I've brought you some milk.



Okay, leave it down here.

Ensign Brzoza.

- Gather the platoon.
- Yes sir.

Platoon, form up in two ranks.

Attention!

- Thank you, stand at ease.
- At ease!

Boys, a difficult task
is awaiting us today.

We have to set up outposts
on the outskirts of Laski.

Recon and pickets in the direction
of Truskaw, Izabelin, Wólka.

The recon will be led by
Cadet Brzoza.

Any volunteers?

Volunteers step forward.

You will choose five volunteers.

Find out where the Hungarians
and the Germans are positioned.

After returning,
report immediately.

You're setting off in an hour.

Password for tonight:

Wisła

Response: Wola

Don't try your luck in any adventures,
no shootouts.

You have to come back alive.

- Understood?
- Yes sir.

Fine.

One more thing.

Our unit has been recently
joined by

chaplain-lieutenant Stefan Wyszyński,
alias Radwan the Third.

You are to treat him as one of yours.
Some of you already know him.

Thank you, Commander.

Gentlemen, without further ado.

It is an honor for me to serve
the Motherland in your ranks.

It's worth fighting for.

I am commending you in prayer,
I am at your disposal.

May the Good Lord lead
us to battle.

God bless you, Chaplain.

So far I have focused
on the sick and the blind.

New duties of the unit chaplain

raise many questions in me.

How am I supposed
to be a soldier?

A priest in a uniform,

the uniform which
for understandable reasons

I cannot wear.

Will I have to fight hand-to-hand

as my forebears did
in the January Uprising?

I've been asked several times
how you can atone for killing an enemy.

What if I were to kill someone?

Yet, I'm a soldier now,
I'm supposed to fight,

but fight in defence.

Fight with a rosary or a fist?

After all, faith commands me to love my
neighbour, but how can I do it in wartime?

Who is really
the military chaplain?

I forgive your sins in the name of
the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Lieutenant, I request
being placed on the first line.

- Do you have a weapon?
- Yes, a Vis handgun.

Fine, you will join
Cadet Brzoza.

- You open fire on command.
- Yes sir.

Remember to keep spacing.

Go ahead!

Fire!

Grenade, now!

Down!

It has begun.
Our forces struck in Warsaw.

May they have enough strength.

There will be injured.

We shall be prepared for it,
Reverend Professor.

Medic!

How about the
surgical instruments?

There are three full sets.

It may not be enough,
we need more.

- But there's nowhere to get it from.
- Are you sure?

Haven't we got a carpentry shop?
There are chisels and saws.

It's me, mother.

Gather everything and show it

to Dr. Cebertowicz,
he will choose.

Of course, Mother.

The Germans are putting up greater
resistance in Warsaw than we thought.

They're getting reinforcements.

Our assault against
the airport got stuck.

Reverend Father, do you think

that the uprising
still stands a chance?

The Command thinks so.

What seemed certain yesterday,
is not so certain today.

Almost a hundred injured people
came from the airport.

- Not enough beds.
- I'll be there in no time.

Reverend Father?

They talk of mass shootings,

executions,

and that the Germans treat
our captives like bandits.

I know.

I know, Mother.

I know and I ask myself
how we should deal with them.

In the same way?

An eye for an eye?

I think, Reverend Father
that we should do our job.

The rest belongs to Providence.

Providence.

Make way!

I'll help you.

Hold.

Father,

father, I would like to confess.

The third of August, it's today.

Our Radwan's birthday.

Which one
is he celebrating today?

The forty-third one,

if I'm not mistaken.

I hope our professor won't discover
that we're preparing a surprise for him.

Here comes the professor.

Ready?

Plurimos annos plurimos.

Plurimos annos plurimos.

Annos, annos plurimos.

Oh, gosh.
I've been tricked.

I am grateful to you
for remembering,

but it's not the right time to celebrate
a birthday, while uprising goes on.

That's right, but even in these
difficult times let's find a little joy.

We've baked a cake.

We wish you God's blessings,

and your fill of health
and all kinds of prosperity,

so that you could
lead all of us,

towards holiness
at his time of pain and anguish.

Stay with us forever.

Dear Mother,

I hope, that one day

God will want us to
meet as saints in heaven.

I pray every day for the Good Lord
to give us all strength,

strength to carry this cross.

Let us carry these treats
to the sick and injured.

- And the flowers?
- The flowers will go to the chapel.

I will celebrate today's Mass
for all people fighting for freedom.

One more time,
thank you for everything.

It's from one of the soldiers.

May it serve you well during
the wartime wandering.

Ave Crux, spes unica.

- Amen.
- Amen.

I've already seen many crosses,

but never one like this.

Made from bullets and shells.

Did the bullets from these shells
kill or hurt anyone?

What does it mean:
"Love our enemies",

now that we have to
shoot at them?

Love for the Motherland
requires sacrifice.

So much needed nowadays.

Fighting bravely to liberate the capital,
you testify that freedom is what you desire.

And as a Polish nation,
we have full right to it.

And even if we were to trust
against all odds,

we cannot give up

because even when
all have perished,

the cause will still remain,

as will this very right
to freedom.

May it inspire you
in the moments of peril.

Just thinking about it

alone is our greatest victory.

Ecce Agnus Dei,

ecce qui tollit peccata mundi.

Beati qui ad cenam Agni
vocati sunt.

This is Miss Zosia.

Please.

I collected it myself.

Hmm, well...

An order came from Warsaw.

Major Okoń will take over the command
in place of the wounded Captain Szymon.

- This news was on the radio.
- And commander Dolina?

He should be the one.

It's an order from the headquarters;
orders shouldn't be questioned.

Unit!

Follow me, march on!

You remind me of Father Skorupka,
who died in 1920, defending Warsaw.

It was the Miracle
on the Vistula.

And I remember we learnt
about it at the seminary.

I was 19 then.

I knew him.
He was a great role model for me.

How I wish for miracle to happen now
and for us all to come back alive.

- Things are good?
- Yes, Ensign.

There's not a soul around.

So, keep it up like this.

Here's the beau.

After an evening bath,
smelling all so nice, at last.

Now you can expect Zośka
to come up to him.

Just look, what smartass boys.

And how are things with
your unit paramedics?

Oh, it's not worth talking to
these ladies' men.

Better listen what the village mayor
of Granica told me.

Two Great War veterans
get to meet.

Elderly gentlemen,
and they talk about

having sclerosis
and memory problems.

One says to the other:
"I don't know it anymore,

whether I served
in the second division of the first army

or in the first division
of the second army?",

and the other replies to him:

"I don't personally remember
if I was hit with

a ball between the shoulder blades,
or with a shovel between the balls".

You heard that?

What conditions will the young generation
get to live under after the war?

Us, Germans, others...

They're washing the cobblestones of
this city with their blood.

Is that how one should love?

How will the wounded
become fathers of families,

what kind of father am I
to be for them?

How can one explain,
the difference between:

"Thou shall not kill;
love and forgive"?

You feel like joking now.

We need to send out
patrols tomorrow.

Sometimes you have to do that
otherwise you could go crazy.

Zosia will be joining
your patrol at sunrise.

With the boys, bring her as close
to the hospital as possible.

Okay

Beautiful night.

True.

So hard to believe
there is a war out there.

Do you miss your family?

Yes, they stayed on the estate
while I went to war.

Did you help on the farm?

Yes, I did.

I mean, before I left for Warsaw
to study there.

I did all sorts of things,
as a stable hand, when harvesting.

And now the sisters help them.

What did you do before the war?

This and that.

I earned extra cash at the
municipal printing house.

And then I trained
to become a typesetter.

And the family?

My father left me
with my mother in 1932,

and then I heard he'd fought in Spain
during the Civil War,

and then we never
heard of him again.

This is why "Radwan", our chaplain
is like a Father to me here.

It's bedtime.

We have a long journey tomorrow.

Yes.

Come on boys!

The last song
and we go to sleep.

The night is coming.

The sun's already left the mountains
parted with fields, slid off the seas.

Rest now, in a quiet sleep.

God is so close.

Will all the things I want
to tell them, be heard, oh God?

Does everyone want to listen
to your voice from my mouth?

We've gone past Pociecha,
we are here now.

This is Laski;
we're heading towards Wólka.

The objective of our recon,

we have to come to this
forest crossroads.

The Germans are already
all over this area.

We could meet the Hungarians,
but we get on with them well.

There is some damage in Izabelin,
but fortunately our hospital is safe.

Staś, you're going in the vanguard.
Tomek, you'll cover him.

We'll walk with Zosia, who is carrying
reports further, some distance.

- All clear?
- Yes sir.

Your eyes in the back
of your head!

What are you praying for?

For our and Brzoza's health.
And you are not praying?

I don't have the time
for such lofty stuff.

- I have other worries.
- Knock off those excuses.

The best cure
for worries is a prayer.

- God will listen to everyone.
- Perhaps, to a German as well.

They wear it on the belts
"Gott mit uns".

We're left to our own devices.

But a moment of prayer
probably won't hurt you.

You should talk
with our chaplain.

You feel like converting me?

And maybe Radwan
will hear my confessions.

May this goddamn war
come to an end - and quickly.

I didn't think I'd
miss the university.

What did you study?
Architecture

After the war,
I will be an engineer.

So maybe you will rebuild
my house in Żoliborz.

Not only yours.
I want to design an orphanage.

It will be useful for kids.

We part ways here.

A bit further this way;
you'll see a hospital.

- May God be with you.
- Good luck.

- And the tenth one?
- "or anything of thy neighbour".

Good.

Mikołaj do you know that this plane
doesn't have one engine?

I know.

Then run to the carpentry shop
and tell the carpenter,

that mother Czacka asks
him to make an engine.

- OK.
- Go on.

- Are you here Reverend Father?
- Yes, I am.

Why are you so quiet Father?

A patrol set off yesterday.

They haven't come back yet.

- You are worried about them?
- Well, yes, a little bit.

There's no point.

It's a matter of Providence.

I feel like a father waiting for
kids back from school.

You want to scold them?

No, no.

I want to complete
a certain conversation.

Especially with Jaś.

- Which one is that?
- The one with the moustache.

With the moustache, hm...

I'm sorry.

Let me know when they're back.

I'll be at the hospital.

I'll do it.

What's up?

Germans, two SS-men
and a vehicle.

- Far away?
- See it for yourself.

How about taking
them by surprise.

No way.

Lieutenant Zetes's orders
were clear.

No gunfire.

We have our tasks.

The time will come
for those bastards.

But why wait
when there's a chance?

We'll get the vehicle.

Yes, we will.

Staś, you're going with me.

Tomek, you cover us from the right.
And silently...

Fire!

Cover me.

Jasiek!

Stasiek, help!

Help!

Man down!

Doctor!

Man down!

- Where was he hit?
- In the stomach.

We ran into Germans.

We managed to escape,
Janek covered us.

He still had time for a grenade.

To the operating room.

On the double!

Let's go!

Holy Mary, mother of God
pray for us sinners,

now and in the hour
of our death. Amen.

Go and bring Father Radwan here.

I don't want to be alone.

Man, if I don't start right away
you'll bleed to death.

Radwan, Radwan!

Morphine!

- Inject morphine.
- Radwan!

I'm here.

It's alright, it's okay, Jasiu.

Syringe!

It's all right.

Today is the day
of blood and glory.

Rise Poland...

This is the end.

No!

For him, it is
just the beginning.

Will I have sacrificed enough?

It is others who perish,
after all.

- Excuse me, Chaplain.
- Yes?

Can you speak German?
There is a request for a confession.

- A German?
- Yes, there was a skirmish in the woods.

We gathered our wounded,
so we took him as well.

Is it true you want to confess?

Yes, please.

I've committed a lot of evil.

What have you done?

God is listening to you.

I took advantage of a girl.

A young Polish girl.

Did you rape her?

No, I lied to her.

I promised I would marry her.

But I already have a wife.

Do you wish to
tell God anything else?

No

That's all.

Have you killed people?

Of course, just
like everyone else.

Do you regret it?

What should I regret?

We are saving the world
from the Bolsheviks and subhumans.

They are God's enemies.

Jews too?

Yes.

They are Bolshevik pigs,
after all.

But Jesus was a Jew.

If you are aware of...

If you are aware of your words,

then I cannot forgive you
your sins.

Why?

Why?

Why?

How can I possibly love those
who are murdering us?

Today we bid farewell

to one of ours.

His Motherland was his soul
and freedom his desire.

Let his spirit be for all of us

a testimony of a soldier's sacrifice,

youthful courage.

Let him be an example for us

and for those who will
come after us.

May his memory
stay with us forever.

Attention!

Shoulder arms!

Present arms!

"Sleep well in the dark grave,

dream of a free Poland."

May the Lord give you a drink
from the Water of Life.

Dear friends,

remember, what
I'm about to tell you.

Only eagles soar over rocky ridges

and do not fear the abyss,
gales or storms.

You must be like eagles
deep inside.

An eagle's heart

and an eagle's sight

set towards the future.

Let us remember our brother,
with a moment of silence.

In honour of his memory!

In nomine Patri,

et Filii,

et Spiritus Sancti.

Proceed.

A salute of honour,
Load weapons!

Fire a volley!

Fire!

At ease!

Shoulder arms!

Right Turn!

Follow me, march on!

Farewell, Jasiu.

Here is the Polish section
of the BBC Radio, London.

In a moment we'll read a message from
Pope Pius XII to the fighting capital.

Warsaw. However deep
we feel pity

at the sight of so much suffering,

we feel an even greater
admiration,

whereby we humbly bow
to the bravery of warriors and victims.

These victims and warriors
showed the world

to what heights heroism can rise

born and sustained
by a noble sense of honour

and by strong convictions
of the Christian faith.

"Roma locuta."

It is important that the Holy Father
expresses his views.

May these words spread out
to the streets of Warsaw

and uphold the failing spirits
of our soldiers.

The promised support
is not coming.

The Soviets are waiting.

It is only us
and the Germans now.

And still God,

still God.

This has happened before.

In Krakowskie Przedmieście St.
An overturned figure of Christ lies again.

Pointing to the sky
with his hand.

We only need one thing.

Hope.

Reverend Professor, do you think
Brzoza likes me?

Darling, why do you ask me?

Go and ask him.

He's constantly on duty,
and I'm still in this hospital.

Have patience, you'll meet soon.

We'll get there soon
Zosiu. You'll have a word.

- Are we there yet?
- Soon. Brzoza is already waiting.

- Halt! Documents!
- Documents.

Witczyński?

Wyszyński.

What's this? Where are you going?

Hans.

What's wrong with her?

Typhoid fever?

No, childbirth.

We're going to hospital.

She is about to give birth.

Breathe calmly.

- Go now!
- Thank you.

Breathe, breathe breathe calmly!

Hold it!

It's all right.

Great job!

It's good you're here.

The Jerries are up to something,
the road is full of patrols.

What took you so long?

The Germans stopped us.

If only you'd seen Rev Professor,
who didn't even bat an eyelid,

when the Jerries held
guns to his face.

- You got it done?
- Yes, the drop was picked.

Commander Dolina
ordered us to bring a few boxes.

They'll take it with the ammo
on their way to Żoliborz.

Zosia!

Serve the cause.

What made you so tongue-tied?
We're taking the boxes.

- Why not take a look at what's inside?
- Let's see then.

So many bullets!

Great.

There's something else here.

Well...

We can fight
with a gun like that.

Father Chaplain, would you
bless a gun?

Son, I may bless you

but never a weapon.

How much does war change us?

Can the lie,
which I have consciously uttered,

be seen as
resourcefulness in good faith?

The cadet doesn't even know what tricks
they teach us in the female CYA.

I've already escaped
from the Jerries three times.

What are you hiding there, Miss?
Letters, perhaps?

From your fiancé?

War is not a time for romance.

The cadet will be surprised.

I have something
much better here.

Yes?

Let me see.

Girl, this is...

- Where is that from?
- It was my Dad's.

He left the gun for my mother
in August 1939.

And the eagle...

It's from his officer's cap.

He was interned
in the Kozelsk camp.

The Germans stated that he was killed
by the Soviets in Katyń in spring 1940.

The Germans are coming Cadet,
three vehicles!

Run to the other side.

- Quick.
- Let's use the piano as a cover!

Help me!

Make it straight!

God bless you.

God bless you.

Do you want to attend
to your wounded?

No, thanks, Father.

We've been informed that
there are bandits in the area.

So, what then?

Are you hiding anyone here?

No.

We only have sick
civilians and a nun here.

They don't bother anyone.

We'll check that right now.

Search the place!

Faster, faster, keep moving!

- Beautiful weather, isn't it?
- Yes.

Let's go inside.
You first.

Do you know
these words from Faust:

"Art is eternal, life is short"?

- No.
- No?

Do you give concerts
for the dead here?

Yes, it helps
lift up their spirits.

Oh, yes.

At least to silence these
constant bombings and shootings.

I'm about to do carry out a shooting
here to give you a better tune.

What are you doing here?

I'm the chaplain of this place.

I also help the blind.

They need me.

And this, what is that?

It's caught my attention immensely.

Typhoid fever!

It belongs to someone
suffering from typhoid.

We have a lot of people here
with suspicion of typhoid fever.

Unfortunately, our conditions
are difficult

and we are short of medicines.

Sorry, but I can't help you.

We haven't found
anything suspicious.

Sick and wounded civilians
everywhere Colonel.

A beautiful instrument.

Take good care of it.

I advise you against
supporting bandits.

And don't forget:

"Life is short,
and art is eternal."

Yes?

It's OK it's over now.

"Beautiful instrument,
take good care of it."

And where's the concern
for human life?

Am I allowed to think that our enemies
are devoid of humanity?

How much does war change us?

I have lied again.

I'm getting better at it.

Typhoid, feigned childbirth,
what comes next?

Mother, forgive my fear,
my deception.

What was it for?

If I had stood in truth,

would I have saved
the lives of these people?

Today I'm not sure of anything.

Mother!

Look after those who perish!

Young and old ones.

Look after our tormentors,

our enemies.

And give me strength,

to meet the challenges of the war
and serving the sick.

- Praised be Jesus Christ.
- Forever and ever - Amen.

- Here are the documents of the wounded.
- Thank you, Sister.

They're zeroing in.
Quick!

Take the wounded to
the basement! Take cover!

Have the Germans forgotten
about you?

I had a surgery.

They didn't see me.

Does God see man?

Do you want Him to see you?

Do you want it?

Another September day
passed quietly.

The life in the insurgents' hospital
teaches me to serve the needy.

Doctor Cebertowicz does what he can,
to help all the wounded.

And Mother Czacka?

She gets food somehow,
to keep us fed.

Various detachments drop in,
some stay longer at our hospital,

others just have the wounds dressed
and then go on fighting.

The uprising is coming
to an end.

The ranks are getting thinner.

Sometimes our soldiers
urgently need medications.

Then I try to take
whatever I have from the hospital.

I push my way through the front line
carrying anything to save their lives.

Sometimes it works.

But not always.

Get off!
Faster!

Keep going!

Faster, faster!

Women for forced labor!

And have those bastards
executed immediately!

- Step aside!
- Leave our wives alone!

And what's he doing here?

A priest caught in our roundup.

Mr. Officer,

Mr. Officer,

please leave those people alone.

They are civilians,
they've done nothing wrong.

Priest!

You are lucky,
that I am a believer.

You will watch them die.

Come on!

Up against the wall with them!

Against the wall, up against the wall!
Faster, faster!

Please, don't kill them!

Oh God...

Oh God...

Oh God...

Oh God...

God...

Give me strength,

give me strength,

give me strength,

to love my enemies.

Give me strength,

to love my enemies.

Give me strength,

to love my enemies.

Because I can't,
can you hear me?

I can't.

I can't do it on my own,

God, give me strength,
give me strength.

This cassock saved me.

It's not right.

Mother, a piece of cloth
saved my life.

It's not a priest's role
to judge God's Providence.

Why did God actually spare me?

I too once had to
answer the question

of why God chose me.

I was young,

pretty and rich.

From a so-called good family.

My whole life was ahead of me.

Meanwhile, on a ride
the horse stumbled and I fell.

It didn't seem like a big deal,

but when evening came I started
seeing these spots in front of my eyes.

A few days later
the ophthalmologist said

that the retinas had come off
in both eyes.

Back then there was
no cure for it.

And then I thought,
just like you, Father.

Why is God doing this?

Now I know.

It has a purpose.

Over the year, when I still could see,
I travelled around Europe, I learnt

how to help the blind and then,
being blind myself,

I started to act,

building this work.

Maybe it's the same with you, Father?

Maybe God has prepared for you
a great plan?

And one should only ask Him, what plan?

I can't do it.

Reverend Father,
you were saved for a reason.

And it will have
to be accomplished.

Poland will now be under the Soviet rule.

And they hate Jesus.

Really should I dare think
that God saved me because he has for me

a plan more important
than for those who died?

We have to trust Him.

This is the moment when we should
think about the future.

However dark it will be.

They're evacuating Warsaw.

Putting everything to the torch.

What's the reason for it?

They've already won.

To give a warning.

So that not a single stone
is left upon another.

The wind blows the ash
from the burning Warsaw.

We will need to
fight for survival,

for the survival of the nation.

Father, father!

Yes?

I want God to see me.

What do you want to tell Him?

I...

I repent.

I absolve you,

in the name of the Father, Son
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Germany will lose

What awaits us
for all these crimes.

Is there hope for us?

There is always hope.

But ahead of us there is still
something very difficult.

What is it?

Atonement...

Atonement for
the countless murdered people.

LOVE FOR ENEMIES
Thou shalt love thy enemy.

Nothing more precious we could receive
from dying Warsaw.

It's the most sacred message,
it's testament,

from fighting capitol to us
and to the whole world.

It's all I could do.

He survived.

- Thanks to the Reverend Father.
- Rather, thanks to God.

A half-burnt piece of paper with
"THOU SHALT LOVE",

found in September 1944 by Wyszynski,
has remained in Laski to this day...

20 years after the Second
World War,

during the Second Vatican Council,
a gesture became world famous.

It was a message the Polish bishops
sent to the German bishops.

The most famous passage in it is:

"We grant forgiveness
and ask your forgiveness".

This gesture initiated the idea of
reconciliation in Polish-German relations...

TO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE PRIESTS