Synopsis:
A lavish historical epic that (on a budget of $8.5 million) was the most expensive Polish film ever at the time of its release. Ogniem I Mieczem/With Fire and Sword is based on a classic Polish novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz about political and social turmoil from 1647 to 1649.

Cossacks are waiting to strike Poland on the Eastern border that neighbors Ukraine. The nearby Tartars and Turks are awaiting the opportunity to attack. The Polish ruling class is busy feuding among themselves. Meanwhile, a daring Pole named Jan Skrzetuski (Michal Zebrowski) falls in love with the beautiful Helena Kurcewicz (Izabella Scorupco - best known for her role in the James Bond film Goldeneye). But Helena is already engaged to Ukranian Bohun. Helena's aunt and guardian, however, cancels the wedding plans, and an enraged Bohun kidnaps Helena. While Jan and his men attempt to find her, the Cossacks and the Tartars have joined forces to take over the nation. With Fire and Sword was the first in a trilogy of novels by Sienkiewicz.

Polish Film Eagle Awards (2000)
Winner: Best Producer
Winner: Best Supporting Actress
Nominated: Best Production Design

Polish Film Festival (1999)
Winner: Best Editing
Winner: Best Production Design
Winner: Jury Prize

“The story is so essentially human as to render the differences of language and culture fairly insignificant anyway. The film’s production values are remarkable, employing a slew of extras and craftsmen to create historically accurate uniforms and weapons for all those extras. The end result is a picture that looks like it was beamed ahead from the 17th century, and the level of realism really adds to the immersive nature of the story.”
Doc Ezra – www.needcoffee.com

Cast:
Michal Zebrowski, Izabella Scorupco (James Bond’s Golden Eye), Aleksandr Domogarov

Crew:
Writer/Producer/Director: Jerzy Hoffman
Writer (novel): Henryk Sienkiewicz
Producers: Jerzy Frykowski & Jerzy R. Michaluk
Cinematographer: Grzegorz Kedzierski
Composer: Krzesimir Debski
Production Designer: Andrzej Halinski
Editors: Marcin Bastkowski & Cezary Grzesiuk

35mm, Poland, ©1999
In Polish with English, French, Russian, Ukrainian subtitles.