Synopsis

In autumn 1980, a radio journalist called Winkel is ordered from on high to write a story about a strike at the Lenin shipyard in Gdánsk. He soon figures out, he is expected to collect incriminating evidence about Maciej Tomczyk, one of the leaders of the recently founded Polish trade union Solidarity. During Winkel’s research, not only Maciej’s wife, Agnieszka, but also his mother and a former fellow student tell the reporter about the unionist’s background and career. The narrative, which is told through several flashbacks, begins with the March events in 1968 Poland. At that time, Maciej is an idealistic student leader whose future is still undecided. A political crime story in form of a journalistic investigation, this work is the sequel to Andrzej Wajdas’s masterpiece Man of Marble as well as a passionate plea for democracy, human rights and the concerns of the working class. With a lot of original footage, the film seems like a documentary. Even Lech Wałęsa himself, later president of Poland, appears in a supporting role. The censorship authorities intended to interfere in the film and cut it excessively, but the shipyard workers announced they were ready to challenge any kind of intervention. In Cannes, Man of Iron was shown uncut and won the festival's Grand Prize, the Golden Palm.