Watch Katyn

Katyn is a historical drama movie released in 2007 and directed by Andrzej Wajda. The movie is based on a true story and portrays the tragic events that took place at Katyn forest in 1940 during World War II. The movie starts with the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939 and the subsequent capture of over 22,000 Polish soldiers by the Soviet army. The prisoners of war were taken to three Soviet camps: Kozielsk, Starobielsk, and Ostashkov. The families of the prisoners were left in the dark about their whereabouts.

The movie then jumps to 1943 when a Polish officer Andrzej (Andrzej Chyra) is released from a prisoner of war camp in Russia due to his health issues. He is sent to the Middle East where he meets his wife Anna (Maja Ostaszewska), who is also a Polish officer. They have not seen each other for several years.

Andrzej is shocked to find out that his wife has not received any news about their families, who were also arrested by the Soviets during the invasion. He is determined to find out what happened to them and joins the Polish Army in Exile in London, where he meets other officers who are looking for answers.

The bulk of the movie takes place in 1945, after the end of World War II, when the Polish Army is tasked with exhuming the bodies of the prisoners of war in the Katyn forest. Andrzej is one of the officers who is sent to the site to witness the exhumation and identify the bodies. In a heart-wrenching scene, he recognizes the body of his father among the dead.

The movie does an excellent job of portraying the various emotions that the families of the prisoners of war must have felt during this time. The scenes where Anna talks about her husband, who she does not know is alive, and her son, who she thinks is a prisoner, are particularly powerful.

The movie also sheds light on the political games that were played between the Soviet Union and the Western powers during this time. The Soviets initially denied any involvement in the massacre and claimed that the Germans were responsible. However, the evidence, including a secret report prepared by a Soviet commission, later proved that the killings were ordered by Stalin.

The movie ends with a poignant scene where the families of the prisoners of war gather at the Polish War Cemetery in London to pay their respects to the dead. The final scene shows Andrzej walking along the cemetery, deep in thought.

Overall, Katyn is a powerful movie that portrays the tragic events of the Katyn massacre with great sensitivity. The excellent acting and directorial skills of Andrzej Wajda make this movie a must-watch for anyone interested in World War II history.