Screening and Discussion of “Let Poland Be Poland” – 30 Years After Its First Broadcast

1 February 2012

Ambassador Feinstein gives remarks at the start of the event

January 31 – To mark the 30th Anniversary of the first broadcast of the film, “Let Poland Be Poland,” made in response to martial law in Poland, the U.S. Embassy partnered with the Meeting History House (Dom Spotykań z Historią) to screen the film and to host a panel discussion about the making of the film and its impact.  U.S. Ambassador Lee A. Feinstein opened the event and spoke about President Reagan’s role in rallying international opposition to martial law and the proclamation of the International Day of Solidarity in January 1982.  The Ambassador also emphasized the great progress Poland has made since the end of communism to become a full democratic partner with the United States.  Although the film was broadcast in 50 countries on January 31, 1982, it was officially broadcast for the first time in Poland only on December 13, 2011 on TVP Historia to mark the 30th Anniversary of the imposition of martial law.  Prior to the 30th Anniversary showings of the film, “Let Poland Be Poland” had only been seen in Poland on video cassettes smuggled into the country during the communist era.

Dariusz Rosiak, journalist and commentator, moderated the evening’s transatlantic discussion panel.  The panel included two veterans of American public diplomacy in Washington, DC via video conference.  Len Baldyga, a former public affairs officer in Warsaw in the 1970s and Poznan in the 1960s, played an integral role in developing the documentary film when he served as the director of Soviet and East European Public Diplomacy.  Also attending by video conference was Jaroslaw Anders, a Polish émigré who served for years as an announcer for Voice of America’s Polish Service and now works at the Department of State.  In Warsaw the panel also included Eugeniusz Smolar, a long-time opponent of the communist regime, who spent years working abroad for BBC’s Polish Section and aiding underground movements inside of Poland .  He was joined by Henryk Wujec, an activist with the Workers’ Defense Committee (KOR) and one of Solidarity’s founders, who now serves as an advisor to Polish President Bronisław Komorowski.

Lasting over one hour, the panel discussion engaged over 100 audience members in the Dom Spotkań z Historią, and 30 viewers in the U.S. Consulate in Kraków, who joined via video conference. 

Highlights from the film “Let Poland Be Poland” can be found on the Embassy’s YouTube channel, starting with Part 1