The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria Joins the Andrzej Wajda Year Celebrations

05.06.2026

A screening of the film "Wałęsa: Man of Hope," one of the works directed by the renowned Polish director Andrzej Wajda, took place in Johannesburg on June 5, 2026. The event was organized by the Warsaw Flights Organizing Committee in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria.

Poster - an invitation to attend the screening of Andrzej Wajda film - Wałęsa. Man of Hope. On the right side of the invitation a photo of the actors: Robert Więckiewicz and Agnieszka Grochowska, who play the role of Lech Wałęsa and Danuta Wałęsa; behind them there is a Polish flag (white and red)

The event was moderated by Mr. Martin Urry. The Embassy of the Republic of Poland was represented by Mr. Piotr Kruze, Head of the Political and Economic Department. After the screening, the audience had the opportunity to discuss the film. The screening generated considerable interest and was warmly received by the audience.

The screening coincided with the anniversary of the June elections, a significant milestone for Poland and Poles, which initiated the political transformation and the fall of communism in Poland. The landmark vote on June 4, 1989, secured a resounding victory for candidates associated with the Solidarity Citizens' Committee.

On the centenary of the birth and tenth anniversary of the death of Andrzej Wajda, one of the greatest filmmakers of Polish and international cinema, the Senate of the Republic of Poland designated 2026 as the Year of Andrzej Wajda. The artist has made a lasting mark on cultural history as an artist combining creative courage with profound social and civic engagement.

Photos: Grażyna Koornhof/Polish Embassy in Pretoria

Photos (5)

The audience gathered at the screening of Andrzej Wajda's film Wałęsa: Man of Hope. Piotr Kruze, Head of the Political and Economic Department at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria, sits in the foreground.

Martin Urry, chairman of the Warsaw Flight Commemoration Committee, is in the foreground; he invites the audience to the screening; two screens are in the background; The larger one bears Andrzej Wajda's signature.

Attendees sit in the screening room of the Ditsong Johannesburg Military History Museum, waiting for the film to be shown. Some hold pieces of paper with a description of the film and information about the director, Andrzej Wajda; two women stand.

A screen with a still from the film; the words "Wałęsa - Man of Hope" appear on the screen; a ship and a shipyard are in the background.