Siberian Exile movie premieres in Poland

Press Materials: Kino Swiat

Siberian Exile (Syberiada Polska) marks the return of award-winning director and screenwriter Janusz Zaorski.

Speaking to Polish Radio, Zaorski noted how members of his own family were among those transported to the wilds of Siberia during the Second World War.

“I knew a lot about it through my family,” Zaorski said, adding that veteran director Andrzej Wajda (Katyn), was among those to encourage him with the project.

“As soon as the script came into being, I received from Andrzej Wajda twenty books touching on themes relating to the Siberian exiles,” he revealed.

The film is principally based on Zbigniew Domino's book of the same name, and stars a number of noted Polish actors, including Adam Woronowicz (The Reverse) and youngster Marcin Walewski (Venice).

The deportations from what had formerly been Eastern Poland began in February 1940, following the division of Poland between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939.

Historians are still divided as to the numbers of Polish citizens deported by the Soviets. Moscow figures cited 330,000, yet Poland's wartime government-in-exile claimed over a million.

Stalin declared an amnesty for his Polish prisoners following the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany in 1941.

As a result, Poles were allowed to form an army from among the deportees, a force that duly fought under General Wladyslaw Anders as part of Britain's 8th Army.

Siberian Exile goes on general release in Poland this Friday. (nh)