Katyn

Name: Katyn
Genre: Drama, History, War
Released: February 18, 2009
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 81

2009

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Ratings

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Katyn

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Movie Details & Credits

Koch Lorber Films | Release Date: February 18, 2009

Summary: In 1941, during their march on Moscow, the Nazis discovered the mass graves of 22,00 Polish intellectuals, clergy and officers. Katyn is the story of Joseph Stalin's order to execute these people.

Director: Andrzej Wajda

Genre(s): Drama, History, War

Runtime: 121 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

A great movie. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

The great Polish director Andrzej Wajda musters the power of classical filmmaking and personal emotional investment to dramatize a stunning atrocity long covered up. Read full review

David Denby

This tenacious artist has now given his father a proper memorial and has reasserted, with power and grace, the history and identity of his nearly effaced country. Read full review

Noel Murray

Wajda makes the murders look horrific and jangled, like something out of "Hostel," then ends Katyn with extended darkness and silence, allowing the audience to mourn for the death of a nation. Read full review

David Edelstein

It is filmed with simplicity, a purity of intent, and I wanted to watch the faces of these men in their last seconds of life--not for the sake of history, but because of Wajda's imperative to put his father's death onscreen. He needed to do this. And somehow, sanity is restored. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Wajda, who lost his father in the purge, gives the film an awful silence and mystery at its core. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

A pensive and searching drama that explores how deep into the national psyche these murders in the Katyn forest went. Read full review

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User Reviews

Jan 18, 2010

The harrowing final scene of the film vividly depicts the pure evil that was Communism.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

DomoR.

Aug 22, 2009

The story of a lie perpetuated by nations upon nations and more, a nation upon itself. Although the events happened 69 years ago, it is nonetheless a timely lesson for us now. Perhaps one day the US will have director like Wajda turn his fine eye to the lies we've told and are still The story of a lie perpetuated by nations upon nations and more, a nation upon itself. Although the events happened 69 years ago, it is nonetheless a timely lesson for us now. Perhaps one day the US will have director like Wajda turn his fine eye to the lies we've told and are still telling to ourselves.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

FrankG.

Aug 1, 2009

Fabulous movie. Stupendous. I wish it was shown in all schools. Children must learn about the crimes of communism.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

HankChinaski

Oct 9, 2011

I was afraid the film would be melodramatic and oozing with patriotism - but this is still a Wajda film. The exemplary life stories entangled in this gruesome part of history are written convincingly and enthrallingly written. The directing, cinematography etc. is superb, as one has come toI was afraid the film would be melodramatic and oozing with patriotism - but this is still a Wajda film. The exemplary life stories entangled in this gruesome part of history are written convincingly and enthrallingly written. The directing, cinematography etc. is superb, as one has come to expect from Wajda. On top of it, the Polish actors (and especially actresses!) have done a great job as well.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Masoud1986

Apr 17, 2013

Superb and powerful. A good one from Andrzej Wajda. Story, cinematography, directing and others are really exceptional. For a person who did not know anything about Katyn, it was a good documentary-like too.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Ralfbergs

Oct 9, 2016

In my opinion it wasn't the best war movie, even though the story about Katyn is such a tragical one, but here, it felt like they didn't dig deep enough into it. I liked how they ended it and overall it is a great movie about a topic which was hidden throughout USSR years, but I feel as aIn my opinion it wasn't the best war movie, even though the story about Katyn is such a tragical one, but here, it felt like they didn't dig deep enough into it. I liked how they ended it and overall it is a great movie about a topic which was hidden throughout USSR years, but I feel as a movie it could have been much more powerful and does not live up to it's full potential… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

PaulM

Aug 24, 2009

An extremely disappointing film. The opening sequence indicated that I was in for a treat but within a few minutes I realised it was a bad film. Lack of continuity in story line, lacking in emotion, a very boring film. I've seen better treatment of this awful event on TV.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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