On 30 July 2019, the iconic Iluzjon Cinema in Warsaw hosted the official premiere of Goliat – the Forgotten Hero, a documentary directed by Tomasz Sańpruch and Witold Tabaka. The film was produced by Małgorzata Bogusz (the Kulski Foundation), Jarosław Nyk (Vision Group) and Tomasz Sańpruch (STEO).
The documentary sheds new light on the everyday life of the people of occupied Warsaw, emphasizing the contribution and dedication of the heroes of the insurgent struggle for honor and the Homeland. The picture of Warsaw under Nazi occupation was presented through memories of one of the youngest participants of the Warsaw Uprising, Julian Eugeniusz Kulski, the teenage Uprising fighter using the nom de guerre “Goliat”. His personal account of the history of the Second World War was accompanied by reflections the role in the Warsaw Uprising played by his father Julian Spitosław Kulski, then-mayor of Warsaw and the successor of Stefan Starzyński, secretly and actively aiding the Underground State in the fight for independence.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński made note of the film in letters read out to the event’s audience. The event attracted quite a crowd with over 250 distinguished guests attending, among them ambassadors, high-rank public servants, people of culture and business. During the premiere, Professor Julian E. Kulski and Małgorzata Bogusz, President of the Kulski Foundation, addressed the audience with a brief speech.
The story told by Professor Julian E. Kulski was accompanied by a commentary made by historians and Government officials, as well as unpublished audio and video recordings of the National Film Archive. All these elements give the viewers a picture of the nation’s multicultural capital, determined to resists the overwhelming force of the deadly occupier.
Goliat – the Forgotten Hero shows the moral integrity of wartime heroes, a character trait increasingly less common among members of modern societies. Due to its valuable ethical statements and educational values, the documentary has been recognized by many institutions.
The project was financially supported by Totalizator Sportowy, the PGNiG Foundation and Orlen – Dar Serca Foundation. We would also like to thank the Warsaw Rising Museum and the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute for their cooperation and generosity.
We are glad that we could spend this special evening, a part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, among the friends of the Foundation. The Brasserie Warszawska restaurant provided catering services for the event.
The premiere’s media sponsors are Rzeczpospolita, TVP Historia, TVP Polonia, TV Republika and Radio Dla Ciebie.
A photo gallery from the premiere can be viewed on the Foundation’s Facebook profile: www.facebook.com/Fundacja-Kulskich-1581939245226050.