Day of Purification (1970)
A tense Polish war drama following Home Army partisans fighting for survival in the summer of 1944.
Day of Purification - Movie Information
- Original Title: Dzień oczyszczenia
- Release Year: 1970
- Directed by: Jerzy Passendorfer
- Type: Movie
- Genres: War, History, Drama
- Original Language: Polish
- Spoken Languages: German, Polish, Russian
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 2, 1970 (Poland)
- Production Companies: Zespół Filmowy “Wektor”
- Production Countries: Poland
Day of Purification - Plot
The film is set in the summer of 1944. The Home Army branch operating in the Sądecki region is decimated by the Germans during an attempt to take over the drop of weapons and ammunition from England. About 20 soldiers break out of the encirclement, including the commander - Major “Dziadek” - and his deputy - Captain Stańczyk. Partisans are trying to get to the ruins of a nearby castle, where the last ammo crate is supposed to have landed.
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Day of Purification - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Jerzy Passendorfer
Main Cast
- Barbara Sołtysik
- Aleksandr Belyavskiy
- Janusz Bukowski
- Anatoli Golik
- Stanisław Jasiukiewicz
- Emil Karewicz
- Vladimir Marenkov
- Witold Pyrkosz
- Jerzy Turek
- Janusz Dziubiński
Writers
- Jerzy Przezdźiecki
Day of Purification - FAQs
What is Day of Purification about?
Day of Purification is set in the summer of 1944 in German-occupied Poland. A Home Army unit in the Sądecki region is ambushed while trying to secure a weapons drop from England. Around twenty surviving partisans, led by Major “Dziadek” and Captain Stańczyk, fight their way toward a ruined castle where the last ammunition crate landed.
Who directed Day of Purification?
Day of Purification was directed by Jerzy Passendorfer, one of Poland's most respected directors of war cinema. Passendorfer was known for his grounded, authentic portrayals of World War II resistance fighters, and this film stands as a strong example of his work in the genre.
Who are the main actors in Day of Purification?
The cast features Stanisław Jasiukiewicz as Major Dziadek and Emil Karewicz as Captain Stańczyk in the leading roles. They're joined by Barbara Sołtysik as Maryna, Aleksandr Belyavskiy as Sasza, Witold Pyrkosz as Witold Drobny, and Janusz Bukowski, among others.
Is Day of Purification based on a true story?
Day of Purification is rooted in the historical reality of the Polish Home Army's wartime operations in the Sądecki region during the summer of 1944. While the specific characters are fictional, the film draws on documented experiences of AK partisans resisting German forces in occupied southern Poland.
When was Day of Purification released?
Day of Purification had its Polish theatrical release on June 2, 1970. The film was produced in Poland and reflects the wave of patriotic war dramas that Polish cinema produced during the postwar decades, honoring the memory of the wartime resistance movement.
What genre is Day of Purification?
Day of Purification blends War, History, and Drama. It combines the tension and action of a wartime survival story with a historically grounded look at the Polish Home Army's struggle against German occupation in 1944, making it both an engaging thriller and a meaningful historical portrait.
What language is Day of Purification in?
The film's original language is Polish. Given its wartime setting and the mix of partisan and enemy forces on screen, it also features dialogue in German and Russian, reflecting the multilingual reality of the Eastern Front and occupied Poland during World War II.
What are some movies similar to Day of Purification?
If you enjoy Day of Purification, you might also like The Forgotten Battle (2021), The Auschwitz Report (2021), The Last Rifleman (2023), Number 24 (2024), and Before Dawn (2024). These films share a similar focus on World War II resistance, sacrifice, and the human cost of armed conflict.
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