Nie rzucim ziemi, skąd nasz ród
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| Nie rzucim ziemi, skąd nasz ród | |
|---|---|
 The film's theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Tanaka Mkwananzi |
| Written by | Tanaka Mkwananzi |
| Starring | Krzesisław Grala Wiktor Tuma |
| Music by | Zvanaka Godwin Tsotang Karabo Toitasei Mungoshi Tashinga Rusere |
Production company | |
Release dates |
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Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country |  West Miersa |
| Language | Miersan |
Nie rzucim ziemi, skąd nasz ród (lit. We won't forsake the land where we came from) is a 2020 West Miersan historical drama and war film, set in the fictional village of Częsnowice at the time of the Miersan War, and produced by Kucharz Studios. After Częsnowice falls to the East Miersan People's Protection Forces, Szatkowski and his neighbours form a militia under the leadership of priest Wielisław Moszkowski, who over the course of the war went from being a tiny militia conducting hit-and-run attacks to one able to liberate the village of Częsnowice.
Released at the 81st Montecara Film Festival as the closing film on 24 October, 2020, it was met with critical acclaim, and was released internationally on 2 November, 2020.
Plot
Bartłomiej Szatkowski (Krzesisław Grala) is a farmer in the village of Częsnowice, situated near the border with East Miersa. One misty morning, he sees tanks come to the village, and after a burst of gunfire, the tanks quickly take over Częsnowice, and raise the flag of East Miersa.
He heads to the village church, only to see East Miersan soldiers smashing icons and damaging the church. He quickly escapes before being caught, and soon meets the priest, Wielisław Moszkowski (Wiktor Tuma). Moszkowski details that the Miersan National Armed Forces "did not put up much of a fight," and that they quickly abandoned Częsnowice to the People's Protection Forces. They both agree that if they wanted to liberate their village, the only way that this could be done would be to form their own militia.
Thus, Szatkowski meets with his neighbors, Wielisław Dunin (Luborad Zabinski), Idzi Gruszka (Hipolit Lupinski), and Włodzimierz Pienta (Albin Kachorowsky), where Szatkowski suggests forming a militia to weaken the People's Protection Forces, and potentially one day liberate Częsnowice. They all agree to it, and Szatkowski relays it back to the priest. The priest, delighted, joins the four men, and they begin to train in secret.
Finally, on one winter day in February 1980, the militia launch their first attack: a hit-and-run attack targeting a convoy going through the village. While this was not successful, it did inspire hope among the villagers, including Marcel Ciak (Gustaw Skiba), who seeks to join the militia to resist against East Miersan occupation.
Over the next few weeks, Ciak was tested for loyalty, as the priest feared that Ciak may be an East Miersan spy sent to sabotage the operations of the militia. However, after passing all of these tests, Ciak was admitted into the militia. By April, the militia launch their second hit-and-run attack, which was far more successful, as they managed to cripple several vehicles. However, the East Miersan forces did not see the efforts in Częsnowice as a threat, while the West Miersans were focused on protecting Krada and the western regions of the country, and kept losing ground to the eastern forces.
During the summer, as the militia grew in size, and made more successful attacks, Moszkowski's militia was able to pose a serious threat to East Miersan forces, with one commander, Antonina Brzoza (Ewa Rzepecka) saying that the "militia around Częsnowice" had put more of a fight than the entirety of the West Miersan army. This trend continued well into the winter: by March 1981, it became clear that Moszkowski's militia was now at the strength needed to begin creating a "liberated zone" controlled by Moszkowski.
While this liberated zone initially only comprised of the farms owned by the militiamen around Częsnowice, it was enough to begin cutting off East Miersan supplies into the village. In the summer of 1981, as a "practice run" for the liberation of Częsnowice, the militia liberated a nearby village, Włolin, with ease. Thus, as autumn set in, Moszkowski's militia now encircled Częsnowice, with attacks on convoys trying to reinforce the East Miersan position making it more difficult for the East Miersan forces to maintain the village.
Thus, in October, the militia were attacked by "the bulk" of the People's Protection Forces, with the bulk attacking from "outside the outer perimeter," and the forces at Częsnowice attacking from "inside the inner perimeter," with the idea that they would be able to squeeze the militia out of their positions. Despite their small numbers compared to the People's Protection Forces, the militia were able to maintain their position, although the "liberated zone" did grow narrower and narrower. As the battle wore on, the Miersan National Armed Forces attempted to try and reinforce the militia by attacking the "outer forces", so the militia could focus on taking Częsnowice, only for the Miersan National Armed Forces to be quickly repulsed. By November, it appeared that the militia was on the verge of being overrun, with the road to and from Częsnowice now being under eastern control once again, and many members fleeing. In one last "death or glory" attack, Moszkowski orders the militia to attack Częsnowice and fight "from house to house" until the village is freed.
The attack on the village itself surprised many in the People's Protection Forces, although in the process, Dunin was captured and tortured. Dunin refuses to give up information regarding the militia's whereabouts, and is thus executed. While the militia was now at a significant disadvantage, due to their knowledge of the houses, they were able to "make life hell" for the defenders, while many of those who fled the fight out of fear that they'd be prosecuted by the easterners returned, ultimately culminating in the People's Protection Forces abandoning Częsnowice, though not before shelling the village beyond recognition.
As the sun rose the next day to a snow-covered landscape, Moszkowski returns to the church to begin rebuilding it, with the aid of many villagers. The other militiamen continue to be vigilant, preparing to protect their liberated zone from a second attack by the East Miersans. A tattered West Miersan flag is raised, symbolizing that they were, once again, free.
Cast
- Krzesisław Grala as Bartłomiej Szatkowski
- Albin Kachorowsky as Włodzimierz Pienta
- Hipolit Lupinski as Idzi Gruszka
- Gustaw Skiba as Marcel Ciak
- Wiktor Tuma as Wielisław Moszkowski
- Luborad Zabinski as Wielisław Dunin
- Ewa Rzepecka as Antonina Brzoza