Man of Iron (Człowiek z żelaza)

MAN OF IRON

Hope is with you when you believe

the earth is not a dream but living flesh.

That sight, touch, and hearing do not lie,

that all things you have ever seen here

are like a garden looked at from a gate.

You cannot enter. But you're sure it's there.

Could we but look more clearly and wisely

we might discover somewhere in the garden

a strange new flower and an unnamed star.

Some people say we should not trust our eyes,

that there is nothing, just a seeming,

These are the ones who have no hope.

They think that the moment we turn away,

the world, behind our backs, ceases to exist,

as if snatched up by the hands of thieves.

- Are you happy with it? - l'll do it again.

The censors will love it.

- Maybe they won't notice. - Mi'rosz?

They're busy with strikes now. Cities on the coast have stopped.

Watch it or your show will stop.

- Mr. Winkel, you're on next. - l'm always on time.

It's four women this time. Get ready.

You think they'll take it off the air?

They won't spare you.

I don't understand.

We're out of time.

What do you mean?

It was great. Thanks.

We're on in a moment.

Let's go over everything to make it sound natural.

As representatives of women's organizations

you express your deep concern over unjustified work stoppages.

- The nursery teacher goes first. - That's me.

Talk about buses and drivers charging for rides.

L've walked 20 kilometres.

I don't understand transport workers. We have similar problems.

My responsibility to children whose fathers are on strike...

- You're changing the script. - Sorry. Whose fathers...

Calm down. Read it.

Have wilfully stopped working is to come to nursery school.

Car drivers exploit that fact and charge a lot for rides.

Swines.

- Now about bananas. - That's me.

Thanks for understanding.

Ships are waiting in the roadstead and bananas are rotting.

I know. lt's all about vitamins. Children are undernourished.

- A phone call for you. - What?

I want to add something.

We, Polish women, appeal to you as wives and mothers:

Get back to work.

Thank you.

It's urgent!

- What's up? - You're wanted.

- What do you mean? - Tell him.

There was a call. The boss wants to see you.

- Which one? - The big boss.

Don't forget to pay your cafeteria tab.

- You think it's bad news? - I don't know.

Mundek, take over for me. I beg you.

- Who called? - A car is waiting downstairs.

- Who called? - The deputy chairman.

- Jesus. - Better comb your hair.

It's a dark blue Fiat 132.

Good luck.

Starring

- Mr. Winkel? - Yes. I had a call.

- Get in. - I had to walk out of the studio.

Excuse me, do you know what this is about?

No.

SorFY-

Throat problems.

Director of photography

Directed by

Wait here.

- Hello. - This is Mr. Winkel.

- Get a drink and wait here. - No, thanks. My liver is acting up.

Wait anyway.

All characters in this film are fictional.

Though they were set against real events in Poland,

and authentic statements and documents were used,

they should not be associated with any real persons

who played a role in the 1980 breakthrough.

Hello.

- Is everything OK? - Gmm.

This is for you. Look through it.

Tape recorder.

Money. Keep it safe.

Sign here.

Remember, this stays between you and me.

Mr. Winkel?

L'm here to pick you up. This way, please.

Excuse me, do you know...

- What? - Nothing.

We're at the Gdarisk shipyard.

It's August 20, 1980.

This is Maciek Tomczyk, the man who started the strike.

Mr. Tomczyk, please tell us how the strike began.

The three of us came to work on the morning of August 14.

Two guys and I.

We agreed earlier that we would do it on the 14th.

We had seven posters.

And about 1,500 leaflets.

I took 800 of them.

I went to my section and put the poster against the window.

I threw the leaflets around the changing room.

I told the guys to come with us.

The day before I asked them whether they would join us.

They said they would if others did. I wanted to make sure.

They wanted to because Anna was fired.

There was a poster here saying that she was fired.

Somebody tore it down.

“Restore Anna Walentynowicz to herjob. A 1,000 zloty pay rise.

An inflation allowance”. Those were our three demands.

Later the rest of the crew came to work.

I told them to go to section K-3, where the strike was to start.

They weren't sure it started. I didn't know but I said it did.

There were twenty or thirty people. We had to encourage another 170.

We went to K-3 and the guys there had these boards on sticks ready.

We pasted posters on them and headed for the management.

People began to gather to see what was going on.

The guys from K-3 followed in our footsteps.

Somebody from the personnel office came up to ask what we were doing.

We said we came to talk.

A crowd gathered in front of the management office.

We waited for Lech Wakgsa.

We elected a strike committee. We were done by 10 or 11 a.m.

The crowd kept getting bigger. More people were joining us.

We marched together around the shipyard once again.

And we headed back for the management office.

Suddenly I saw Wakgsa jumping over the fence.

He was not at work because he was fired.

He came up to us and began to speak to the workers.

None of us were good at making speeches.

He said: "I worked here for ten years and I was fired.

You all know me”. People listened.

That's the guy who started the strike in the shipyard.

His name is Maciek Tomczyk.

A bastard. But his origin is quite interesting.

- You want to watch it again? - No, thanks.

His illegitimate father took part in a strike ten years ago.

We are dealing with a beautiful counterrevolutionary tradition.

Is that clear? Why are you giving it back?

It's background material for your work.

What?

I don't understand.

When events develop, we'll get Tomczyk.

If a legend is born, we have to dispel it.

We'll do it with the help of your story.

L'm not a reporter.

I wonder why they sent you.

I wouldn't have thought of it.

You know who got you out back in 1971?

Not really.

- It was me. See? - I didn't know.

You don't know me, but I know you.

Sign for the car, please.

The strike committee banned the sale of alcohol.

We have prohibition.

But we'll manage.

Here.

- It'll come handy. - Thanks.

They make bans. But two Poles can never agree while sober.

Warsaw isn't aware that the situation is serious.

They make foolish decisions.

Here in Gdarisk there are no sensible people. Just wimps.

They want to be on kissy-kissy terms with the strike committee.

The basic rule is: We won't share power!

You know what? lt's counterrevolution.

We have to say it right out.

We have to get into the shipyard and drive a wedge between them.

What can I do? l'm just a guy with a tape recorder.

You can do a lot. I know you. I count on you.

We'll antagonize them and get them out into the streets.

- You think... - I know!

It's not a win or lose thing!

Warsaw must understand it's time to take tough measures.

If we don't take control, they will.

Where will that leave us?

What if we prove to Warsaw that it's a mortal threat?

You have any ideas?

We have to make Warsaw aware of the danger.

Take the mob out into the streets, like ten years ago.

- What if they don't go? - They will.

What if somebody got rid of that Tomczyk guy?

We'd have an explosion, a confrontation...

Call an ambulance!

...and peace.

It's nothing. The director has these attacks since he lost his job.

I was afraid...

You're pretty brave to come here now.

I don't understand. Why?

You saw yourself. lt's a hazard.

You can get a rap from both sides.

What do you mean?

You dislike workers so much?

Me? No.

Look, it's going to get hot.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

After me, please.