From May 6th to 8th, the Polish Institute in Berlin will be showing as part of the Berlin-wide film series "80 years since the end of the Second World War" the film THE HOURS OF HOPE (Godziny nadziei), which can be seen on May 8th.
Jan Rybkowski's film was made in 1955, shot in the small western Polish town of Łagów. The action takes place in the last days of the war: the town has already been liberated, French, Americans, Poles, Russians, former forced laborers, prisoners and soldiers celebrate the end of the war, there is almost a hint of carnival in the air. But in the nearby forest, a Waffen SS unit is still camped, trying to escape to the west - and has to pass through the town.
At the FilmFestival Cottbus, THE HOURS OF HOPE was screened five years ago in the "Close Up WW II" series to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The screening on May 8 offers a rare opportunity to watch this unique film once again. Further information: https://instytutpolski.pl/berlin/2025/04/15/hours-of-hope/