Heroines of Polish Cinema

Abstract

AGNIESZKA AND OTHER SOLIDARITY HEROINES OF POLISH CINEMA Agnieszka is the heroine of two of Andrzej Wajda's films, Człowiek z marmuru (Man of Marble, 1976) and Człowiek z żelaza (Man of Iron, 1981). However, in Man of Iron, Agnieszka has quite a different personality and has a different narrative function, compared with Agnieszka in Man of Marble. What concerns me in this article, is the nature and socio-political background of Agnieszka's creation and her transformation from heroine of Man of Marble to Man of Iron and subsequently her 'post-Wajda incarnations' in later Polish films about the Solidarity movement. "Iron Agnieszka"In Man of Marble, which is set in the mid-1970s, Agnieszka is a final year film college student. She is completing her diploma film, financed by the state television, which also provides her with crew and equipment. Agnieszka decides to make a documentary, entitled Gwiazdy jednego sezonu (Falling...