Flashback: Man of Iron – Andrzej Wajda’s 1981 film on the Polish Solidarity strike

Polish director Andrzej Wajda died recently, at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy of acclaimed films inspired by his country’s turbulent history.

It is necessary to do some research before watching Wajda’s classic of political cinema. Set in 1980, and filmed in the Gdansk shipyard, Man of Iron (1981) focuses on the rise of independent trade union Solidarity (Solidarnosc), whose long-time efforts to form a union outside the control of Poland’s corrupt ruling party led to the introduction of democracy in the country.

A continuation of Wajda’s 1977 Man of Marble, this sequel is an engaging and intelligent political thriller that documents the actions of this defiant and ultimately victorious political movement.

The story revolves around Winkel (Marian Opania), a journalist who was fired from his radio job for not toeing the party line on the workers protests of 1970. Winkel gets his job back with the help of a powerful friend in the state police, who hints that he should find, or invent, some dirt on a young labour activist, Maciej (Jerzy Radziwiłowicz), so that the govern­ment can discredit him. Winkel, who once held the views of the trade unionists, does not agree with the government, but goes along with the plan anyway. His sympathy with the workers’ cause, however, is rekindled by his engagement with them.