Summer Cinema at the Citadel – “Kanal” on the 82nd Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising
On 1 August 2026, the 82nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, we gathered at the Warsaw Citadel for another evening of the Summer Cinema at the Citadel, organised by the Katyn Museum. We would like to thank everyone who chose to spend this special day with us. Despite intermittent rain, the event was well attended.
The screening of “Kanal”, directed by Andrzej Wajda, was preceded by an introduction by Dr Bartłomiej Bydoń, Head of the Promotion and Education Section and Deputy Director of the Katyn Museum. He presented the historical background to the events depicted in Wajda’s film and discussed the circumstances surrounding the creation of one of the most significant works of Polish cinema devoted to the memory of the Warsaw Uprising.
As Andrzej Wajda once observed: “The film “Kanal”, whose screenplay was almost a chronicle of the Uprising, showed how far people are willing to go for an idea in which they profoundly believe.” “Kanal” is one of the finest achievements of Polish cinema and one of the most important films devoted to the Warsaw Uprising. It portrays the dramatic fate of a Home Army unit which, during the final days of the fighting, attempts to make its way through the city’s sewers to the city centre. For nearly 70 years, Andrzej Wajda’s film has continued to move successive generations of viewers. It depicts not only the courage and self-sacrifice of the participants in the Warsaw Uprising, but also the tragedy of their situation, their isolation, and the heavy price they paid in the struggle for freedom.
The evening screening provided a symbolic conclusion to the anniversary commemorations held that day at the Polish Army Museum. The museum also hosted a Scout rally and an open-air exhibition featuring the legendary Kubuś armoured vehicle, weapons, and posters from the Warsaw Uprising.
The evening of 1 August 2026 was quiet and reflective—entirely different from the first hours of fighting 82 years earlier. It was here, within the grounds of the Warsaw Citadel, that soldiers of the Home Army’s Żoliborz Group “Żaglowiec”, commanded by Second Lieutenant Stefan Szuba, nom de guerre “Leszcz”, engaged the German occupying forces and suffered heavy losses. Today, in this place marked by history, we were able to pay tribute together with our audience to those who fought for Poland’s freedom. Gatherings such as this remind us of the extraordinary spirit of Warsaw—a city that, despite unimaginable destruction, rose again from its ruins. They also honour the people who remained faithful to their values, preserved the memory of the past, and accepted the responsibility of passing that history on to future generations.
Thank you for spending this evening with us. Your presence is the strongest proof that the memory of the Warsaw Uprising remains alive.
