The superb resolution and quality of the print reflects the skill, and frame by frame perseverance, care and love put in to restore and stabilise the original footage. The accurate and unobtrusive colourisation is outstanding and vital to bringing the documentary to life.

Produced by the Warsaw Rising Museum, it was screened at the Polish Consulate, Sydney, on the 1st and 2nd of September, 2015. Having viewed it on both evenings and been deeply moved on each occasion, I feel it important that I share my thoughts. Question: Is it possible to experience a place and time long gone; a ‘real life’ experience of a battle that unfolded before your birth? I believe I have, my soul was drawn into the story; I identified with the people and felt their pain. To all involved in the production and presentation of “Powstanie Warszawskie”, thank you!

In the process of exploring the theme: the triumph of liberty over tyranny, I have watched thousands of documentaries, including at least a dozen about the 1944 Battle for Warsaw. Never before have I seen one that concentrates on the day to day life of the beleaguered city; the usual focus is a portrayal and an analysis of the causes, events and aftermath of the battle.

To understand the importance of this ingenious off-centre idea of throwing the spotlight onto different aspects of the Rising, consider an analogy. What image would we picture if five blind men were asked to describe an elephant standing near them? The first grabbed the elephant's tail and said the elephant is like a rope. The second touched the elephant's side and he portrayed the elephant as being wall like; another touched the leg and said an elephant was similar to a tree; the next man grabbed the elephant's ear and he described the elephant to be a big leaf; the last man grabbed the elephant's trunk and likened the elephant to a snake.

In fact the elephant is more than any one of these individual descriptions and we still know nothing about its behaviours, diet, life expectancy, habitat and millions of other things. Let’s consider a man like Abraham Lincoln, who lived from 1809 to 1865. One would think that by 2015 new biographical accounts of his life would have long petered out, but in fact new perspectives continue to be published. The Peterson House in Washington DC, where the assassinated President died, has formed a tower using a fraction of the 15,000 English language books currently in print about Lincoln. Wars and battles are much more complex phenomena than elephants or any single individual, so there is no doubt that future researchers will discover, explore and present many other angles of the Warsaw Rising. Let us hope!

The English speaking world is deprived of the inspiring stories of outstanding Polish contributions to liberty and Allied victory in WWII; great role models and lessons to be learned. To inspire greater interest in the Warsaw Rising perhaps some film maker will produce a documentary about non Poles helping the citizens of Warsaw in their time of need. As an Australian of Polish heritage I would like soldiers such as Walter Edward Smith to be recognised and honoured for what he did. He was not alone as the news clipping shows.

The account of day to day life of 1944 Warsaw presented by the team from the Warsaw Rising Museum was eye opening! In my first viewing a gamut of emotions and thoughts exploded in my mind. On September 2nd, I scanned the Consulate viewing room at regular intervals; everyone had their eyes riveted to the screen for almost 90 minutes; kudos again to the documentary producers. They have salvaged newsreel footage, restored and colourised it and blended it with a narrative that draws the viewer into Warsaw at the time of the Rising.

We know the fate of the people whom we see and meet, a fate they must have contemplated in whatever quiet moments they may have had. I found the atmosphere of ‘normalcy’ most fascinating and amazing. Not normalcy as appears in the first scenes of the English version of the documentary of a thriving pre-war Warsaw, but the admirable manner in which people continue living their day to day lives; keeping faith, participating in open air Mass, falling in love, getting married, attending funerals, posting letters, reading newspapers, passing time playing cards, nursing and caring for the sick and injured, smiling, giggling or showing shyness in front of the camera, small talk between friends, sweeping the streets, cooking meals, baking bread, sharing moments at mealtime and so on.

People have not lost their humour; the presentation of a puppet show to children is particularly moving and endearing. Even though Warsaw was a big city, the community spirit is palpable; newspapers are published and distributed, newsreels screened in theatres, people enjoy each other’s company in cafes brightened by the music of fiddlers. The improvisations evident in some of the scenes, such as the manufacture of guns and ammunition, are not unexpected; after all, the ability to improvise is a national characteristic.

At the same time, life was hell and it got progressively worse. Juxtaposed with the day to day living are war scenes and sounds if not the associated smells and stenches. Barricades, smoking shattered buildings, burned out tramcars, constant death and threat of death. Amongst the destruction, desolation and destitution the manner in which Varsovians faced adversity is endearing. The people are not cowed; they are calm, stoic but circumspect, keeping low when crossing open spaces or taking care to avoid bomb rubble. They manage. There is order and cooperation not chaos; people are respectful of each other, showing concern; always ready to help others in need. Such courage needs to be remembered, respected and honoured; kudos to the documentary producers for focusing on the day to day life of Varsovians.

In the Sydney Consulate screenings, although both audiences were equally riveted, the responses in each Q&A session were remarkably different. It was enlightening. Most of the 120 or so September 1st attendees were substantially professional people; In the Q&A session that followed the screening, there was a stunning silence. A smaller group of about 80 or so viewers comprising mostly ‘regular folk’ responded with several interesting comments and questions.

Some of the questions I recall were: How much newsreel footage survived the war? What percentage of the remaining footage was used in the production of the documentary? Has anyone living recognised themselves in the footage? Some viewers came with the expectation that, just like most of the other documentaries about the Battle of Warsaw, they would see battlefield action scenes. One viewer voiced his disappointment that this aspect was covered minimally. It is understandable some people will think this way because this aspect of the Battle has been the main focus of most Warsaw Uprising documentaries.

The problem here is not with the documentary, it is with the narrow mindset of what people have become accustomed to believe will be shown in any film about the Warsaw Uprising. Over time, as the film’s reputation grows people will able to broaden their mindset and appreciate the spotlight being thrown on other aspects of “Powstanie Warszawskie”. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I believe Warsaw Uprising (2014) to be a documentary masterpiece. Only time will tell, but at the very least I expect other film makers will adopt the innovatory perspective pioneered by the Warsaw Rising Museum and apply it to other battles if sufficient newsreel footage exists.

Kudos and thank you to everybody involved in the creation of this outstanding and trailblazing documentary; in all respects, from concept to completion and presentation in Australia and around the world, it is outstanding.

Felix Molski