PASSENDORFER, JERZY

(1923-2003)

After graduating from the film school in Prague (FAMU), Passendorfer worked as assistant director and later, since his 1957 debut,The Case of Captain Martens(Sprawa kapitana Martensa), as director of films set mostly during World War II. HisAnswer to Violence(Zamach, 1958) belongs among the better-known films of thePolish Schoolperiod. The film deals with the assassination of the commander of the SS and police forces in occupied Warsaw, Franz Kutchera, by a Home Army (AK) unit. Passendorfer's noteworthy accomplishments include films starringWojciech Siemionabout simple Polish soldiers and their passage to Berlin alongside the Red Army:Bathed in Fire(Skąpani w ogniu, 1964),Direction Berlin(Kierunek Berlin, 1969), and its sequel,The Last Days(Ostatnie dni, 1969).Passendorfer also made films about the partisan struggle during World War II. These includeScenes of Battle(Barwy walki, 1965), based on the book written by the minister of interior Mieczysław Moczar, andDay of Exculpation(Dzień oczyszczenia, 1969). Passendorfer also dealt with the violent postwar situation in Poland in films such asThe Last Bridge(Zerwany most, 1962) andOperation"Brutus" (Akcja"Brutus," 1970). His ventures into other genres were not as successful, with the exception of the realisticKill the Black Sheep(Zabijcie czarną owcę, 1972) and the popular historical adventuretelevisionseriesJanosik(1973, big-screen version in 1974).

Other films:The Signals(Sygnały, 1959),Shadows of the Past(Powrót, 1960),Sunday of Justice(Niedziela sprawiedliwości, 1965),Big Beat(Mocne uderzenie, 1966),Victory(Zwycięstwo, 1974),Seagulls(Mewy, 1986).