The Promised Land / Ziemia obiecana (1975)
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Runtime: 2h 50min

A boldly executed adaptation of Władysław Reymont’s nearly forgotten novel, The Promised Land follows the fate of three friends—Max, a German; Moritz, a Jew; and Karol, a Pole—against the backdrop of the rapidly developing city of Łódź. The protagonists decide to establish their own textile factory, much to the dismay of their competitors.

Visually stunning, narratively rich, and superbly acted, the film consistently ranks at the top of the lists of the greatest Polish films of all time. Andrzej Wajda’s masterful direction, his ability to weave together multiple plotlines, and the film’s remarkable staging earned it widespread acclaim. The only prize it missed was the Oscar—despite being a frontrunner, it lost due to absurd accusations of antisemitism.