The historic Battle of Warsaw, which broke out in 1920, is the first battle to be won by Poland without any help of other countries since the 17th century. By keeping enemy troops from moving toward Europe, Poland enjoys its newly gained freedom for the next nineteen years and Lenin and Trotsky have no choice but giving up on their plan to feed the flame of revolution throughout the world. This film is an epic saga of ordinary man and woman entangled in intense situations during the battle. Ola is an actress working at Oasis, a comedy theater in Warsaw. She marries Jan, a cavalry soldier absorbed in socialism. By means of cross-cutting, Hoffman shows what each of the two experiences during the war. At the court-martial, Jan is sentenced to death for praising communism and acting against Poland. He then becomes the enemy’s prisoner and escapes. Through Jan’s experience, the film shows the Polish army fighting against its enemy’s fierce attacks. Meanwhile, from the point of view of Ola who stays in Warsaw, the audience can see the Polish people who make utmost efforts to defend their capital. The ending scene takes place in a field hospital where Ola filled with anger finally meets her husband Jan again. This film is filled with spectacular and realistic battle scenes that are rarely to be seen today. Military equipment that is far from that used in today’s wars, including the cavalry, infantry, bayonet charges, trench warfare, old-style tanks, armored vehicles, reconnaissance equipment and old-style combat planes, draws attention, making the film even more spectacular. (Jay JEON)