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Man of Iron

Play trailer Poster for Man of Iron PG Released Jul 27, 1981 2h 33m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In the sequel to Polish dissident filmmaker Andrzej Wajda's "Man of Marble," alcoholic television reporter Winkiel (Marian Opania) is assigned by Communist Party bosses the task of discrediting the Gdansk shipyard strikers, particularly charismatic worker Tomczyk (Jerzy Radziwiłowicz) and his politically detained filmmaker wife, Agnieszka (Krystyna Janda). The film is set against Poland's emergent Solidarity labor movement, and includes scenes filmed during actual labor strikes.

Critics Reviews

View All (4) Critics Reviews
Bruce McCabe Boston Globe It's a highly and idiosyncratically stylized version of the dramatic events in Poland that led to the formation of the Solidarity union. Apr 28, 2018 Full Review Jesús Fernández Santos El Pais (Spain) The film is shot in a mechanical way, which makes it a bit monotonous. However, the script never loses interest. [Full Review in Spanish] Aug 20, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A not to be missed film for political junkies. Rated: A- Mar 2, 2011 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice Man of Iron explores the volatile political situation in Poland from 1968 to 1980. Jan 31, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (17) audience reviews
Tony S In this sequel to the Man of Marble, any kind of subtlety about state's contempt for people like Birkut and his son is thrown out of the window. The central focus is now switched and now we follow the man who is tasked with creating propaganda, not peeling it of the real events, and in contrast to the Man of Marble, this is a primarily a story about a man finding his conscious, not trying to keep it clean. Now the narrative is completely surrounded by historical events of creating and legitimizing independent union of "Solidarity" and preceding attempts. And if you're not familiar with this event, it might not even occur to you, that it's not fiction. I do not think it's better than the 1977 film and frankly, it just seem too pandering in retrospective, especially when it ends with party officials, angrily shaking their fists telling Winkel, that they are going to get them all. Also the scene, where Radziwilowicz was playing two characters in one scene is ridiculously awkward. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/25/21 Full Review s r 1001 movies to see before you die. Although this has some narrative issues, this one still is powerful and unique. It's amazing that it was ever made. It was on youtube. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This follow up to the excellent Man of Marble (Czlowiek z marmuru) is simply a bad film. Well-intentioned, but in the absence of a coherent, independent story, it is a piece of political propaganda. For the Solidarity movement, against the mendacity and repression of the crumbling communist state, but it doesn;t make it good. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Andrzej Wajda is always fond of portraying his motherland's important historical moments. Man of Iron is a semi-documentary picturing the Gdansk Shipyard Uprising and the birth of Solidarity Movement led by Lech Walesa. Through flashbacks and references to his previous film, Man of Marble, we are presented the courageous Polish resistance, a precursor to the prominent fall of the Communist experiment. Dealing with the battle between conformity and conscience, Wajda exhibited his patriotism with a hope of a better future in this film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member The sequel to man of marble. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Wajda's film mixes documentary footage with a backstory of how the son of the leader of a workers' movement rises to prominence. The seemingly central story of a journalist's finding his calling/courage doesn't ever click, and I kept wishing for more of the other stories. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Man of Iron

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the sequel to Polish dissident filmmaker Andrzej Wajda's "Man of Marble," alcoholic television reporter Winkiel (Marian Opania) is assigned by Communist Party bosses the task of discrediting the Gdansk shipyard strikers, particularly charismatic worker Tomczyk (Jerzy Radziwiłowicz) and his politically detained filmmaker wife, Agnieszka (Krystyna Janda). The film is set against Poland's emergent Solidarity labor movement, and includes scenes filmed during actual labor strikes.
Director
Andrzej Wajda
Screenwriter
Aleksander Ścibor-Rylski
Production Co
Zespół Filmowy "X"
Rating
PG
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
Polish
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 27, 1981, Original
Release Date (DVD)
May 3, 2010
Runtime
2h 33m