Pan Tadeusz (1999) ***

Directed by Andrzej Wajda. With Michal Zebrowski, Daniel Olbrychski and Marek Kondrat. A wonderful adaptation of an epic poem about a small uprising in Russian-occupied Poland during the Napoleonic Wars. It’s a very patriotic work, but its political message isn’t nationalistic at all. Instead of demonizing foreigners, the film blames internal divisions as the chief cause of Poland’s downfall. The picture is most memorable for its beautiful poetic dialogue.