Kamienie na szaniec

This is based on a true episode during the Nazi occupation of Warsaw in WWII and is from a novel of the same title. The 'Szare Szeregi' or Gray Ranks of 'The Scouts' as they were known fought with the Home Army and got involved with low key sabotage against the invaders to fight for their country. As the iron fist of the Nazis came down ever harder, the young men decided that pamphlets and flags were not enough and so decided to take up the inevitable armed struggle.

This tells of a particular operation in which they set about to free a captured comrade who has been taken by the Germans. Now there are scenes here of torture and up front and personal violence. At one point in the film they say 'let the living never lose hope' and that is a perfect phrase to sum up why they fought against impossible odds with a random set of weapons and minimum training.

This is a very well made and acted film, it is also genuinely moving in places. Just ignore the cover art on this as ever it is misleading. The makeup is totally excellent and the period detail is spot on too. The original title is 'Kamienie na szaniec' or 'Stones for the rampart' in reference to them having to be as stones in their defence of their homes. This is as I said a great film and I hope a fitting tribute to these brave young men and indeed women who did the right thing in those dark days of history.