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24.06.2025

We have screened the IPN "Monte Cassino - Trail of Hope" series in Rome, Italy

On 22 June 2025, the premiere of the IPN series "Monte Cassino - Trail of Hope" took place at the Adriano cinema in Rome. The screening of the film was accompanied by the "Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition.

22 June 2025, the premiere of the IPN series "Monte Cassino - Trail of Hope" at the Adriano cinema in Rome
The IPN delegation at the entrance of the Adriano cinema in Rome
Deputy president of the Institute of National Remembrance, Dr. Mateusz Szpytma
22 June 2025, the premiere of the IPN series "Monte Cassino - Trail of Hope" at the Adriano cinema in Rome
Administrator of the Church and Hospice of St. Stanislaus in Rome, Fr. Tomasz Jarosz
Polish Ambassador to the Holy See Adam Kwiatkowski
Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Rome Bartosz Skwarczyński
Deputy president of the Institute of National Remembrance, Dr. Mateusz Szpytma
Director of the IPN National Education Office, Dr. Adam Pleskaczyński
Head of the Department of Polish History until 1945 at the IPN's Historical Research Office Dr. Sławomir Kalbarczyk
22 June 2025, the premiere of the IPN series "Monte Cassino - Trail of Hope" at the Adriano cinema in Rome
"Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition
22 June 2025, the premiere of the IPN series "Monte Cassino - Trail of Hope" at the Adriano cinema in Rome
"Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition
"Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition
"Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition
"Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition
"Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition
"Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition
Director of the IPN National Education Office, Dr. Adam Pleskaczyński
"Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition
"Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition
"Trails of Hope. Odyssey of Freedom" exhibition

In a speech preceding the screening of two episodes of the series directed by Tomasz Łysiak, the deputy president of the Institute of National Remembrance, Dr. Mateusz Szpytma, noted:

- Although not all of us returned to a free Poland, we all fought for it. We fought not for glory, but for the right to be Poles in a free world. I began with these words of General Władysław Anders to draw your attention to the real heroes you will see in the film produced by the IPN.

Dr. Mateusz Szpytma also emphasized that the mission of the IPN is disseminating the history of Poland which we could not talk about for half a century among all Poles and the whole world.

- Those defeated in 1939 fell into the hands of the Bolsheviks and survived months, and some even years, in Soviet captivity, and as soon as such an opportunity arose, they reported to the Polish Army under the command of General Anders, and eventually achieved one of Poland's greatest successes during the Second World War.

– said the Deputy President of the IPN.

The event was also attended by, among others, the Polish Ambassador to the Holy See Adam Kwiatkowski, the administrator of the Church and Hospice of St. Stanislaus in Rome, Fr. Tomasz Jarosz, the Director of the IPN National Education Office, Dr. Adam Pleskaczyński, and the head of the Department of Polish History until 1945 at the IPN's Historical Research Office Dr. Sławomir Kalbarczyk, who gave a lecture entitled "»For our freedom and yours«. The battles of the 2nd Polish Corps in Italy in the years 1944–1945".

* * *

The Institute of National Remembrance has produced a five-part fictional documentary series entitled "Monte Cassino – Trail of Hope", which is a story about the fate of Poland as a state and community of citizens affected by the cruelty of two totalitarianisms: German and Soviet. Another unique feature of  the series is the presentation of the Battle of Monte Cassino international context.

The narrative of the entire series spans the German-Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939, the deportations of Poles to Siberia in the years 1940–1941, the battles for Tobruk in Africa and the formation of a commando company in Scotland in 1941, the formation of the Polish Army in the East in 1942, the preparation and implementation of the Allied landing in Italy in 1943, through the events at Monte Cassino with a detailed account of the course of the battle in 1944, to the liberation of Ancona, Loreto and Bologna in 1945. Against the background of this broad panorama of great history, the fates of people and the experiences of local communities are shown. Previously unknown facts and silenced stories were discovered, arousing emotions even today, after many years. The series includes interviews with veterans – witnesses of history, their descendants and outstanding experts from Poland and around the world. The historical scenes were made as fictionalized reenactments with attention paid to faithfully reproducing the uniforms, equipment and weapons. Some of these scenes, in historical costume, are shown in a contemporary setting, with tourists and residents in the background. These insightful observations from close-up have been combined with many aerial shots taken with a drone, thanks to which one can easily understand the topography of historical events. In addition, the series contains numerous, excellent archival materials from Polish and foreign repositories.

The author of the script, director and narrator appearing in the series is Tomasz Łysiak - a writer, historical essayist, who has both documentaries and feature films to his credit.

In episodes 4 and 5, viewers will be able to see the detailed course of the fourth and decisive battle of Monte Cassino l from the moment General Władysław Anders decides for Polish soldiers to attack the monastery, until the moment the white-red flag is raised on its ruins. The episodes aim to present events from several perspectives – their spatial structure, terrain difficulties, tactical plans and soldiers’ personal experiences. Thanks to numerous animated maps and excellent drone footage, viewers will be able to thoroughly explore the battlefield of Monte Cassino. Statements by world-class experts and accounts of witnesses to history will take viewers day by day through the dramatic fate of the battle and the heroic attitude of Polish soldiers.


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