Walesa

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1

This is the 52nd annual celebration

of the October Revolution

taking place in November

in Moscow's Red Square.

AFTER WORLD WAR ll POLAND WAS SURRENDERED

TO THE COMMUNIST SOVIET EMPIRE

Moscow Military District troops,

including the Armored Missile Divisions

parade in front of party leaders

and members of government.

IN 1980, FOLLOWING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS

AT RESISTANCE, POLES CREATED "SOLIDARITY",

A 10-MILLIONS-STRONG OPPOSITION MOVEMEN HEADED BY LECH WALESA

WALESA:

MAN OF HOPE:

WRITTEN BY:

- We have company again.

- That's possible.

Can they stop us?

The most famous journalist

from the West?

They're here for our safety.

It seems to me that this interview

could be very inconvenient for them.

Boys, clear up your toys.

Go wash your hands.

Slawek, take this away.

I'll check your hands, all right?

- A white shin.

- No. I didn't want this interview.

Bogdan, take this.

Wear a tie at least.

No! I'm not going to suffocate

for that brazen hag.

This is the home of the man

who leads a 10-million-member union?

He was recently given this place

by the authorities.

He accepted an apartment

from the authorities he's opposing?

Six kids and no money to live on.

Solidarity' didn't protest.

Are you sure?

What is he like?

He's full of contradictions.

And surprises.

I'm Oriana Fallaci.

It is a cold afternoon in Gdansk,

blanketed with snow and anxiety.

Wait, wait, wait.

Before we begin, we need to

agree on a few things.

I'm a simple worker,

but I don't feel inferior...

Not inferior to generals,

to prime ministers or to you.

So let me ask the first question:

Will this interview help me or hurt me?

Listen, Mr. Walesa.

I can't tell you if you will

benefit from this or not.

It really depends on what you say.

And I'm the one asking questions.

Let's begin.

7 months ago, hardly anybody

knew your name abroad or in Poland.

Today you're one of the most famous

people in the world.

When you're in Italy, you're welcomed

like a head of state. A movie star...

Stop, stop, stop, stop.

Why?

You have an authoritarian,

dictatorial style.

I do, too. So now we have a problem.

Let's try this:
I'll be nice to you

and you'll be nice to me.

Otherwise, we'll tear

each other to pieces.

We've talked once before. Why again?

Because I need to make sure

I've understood you correctly.

Brezhnev was clear on one thing: in Poland,

enemies of socialism are carrying out

counterrevolutionary activities.

And the Soviet Union will never

abandon its communist Polish allies.

This is only barking

meant to scare people off.

Aren't you afraid of responsibility

towards your country and history?

- No, no, no...

- Or that you're not the right person?

I am a man of faith and I know

that the times call for someone like me.

DECEMBER 1970

DECEMBER 1970 12 December 1970 the

Council of Ministers has approved

an increase in prices of consumer goods.

The prices of meat preserves

are rising by 17.6%.

Wheat and rye flour by 16%.

Milk - 8%.

Jam and marmalade - 36.8%.

Roasted grain coffee - 92.1%.

Cream of wheat - 23%.

I made it, I'm here!

Go now, Mr. Walesa!

Thank God you've taken a day off.

Go, go!

I'll wipe Danuta's feet myself.

Put on something warm.

It's freezing.

Lech!

Where's your scan'?

- I'll do it.

- No, you shouldn't bend over.

Your hair must be done. Don't want you

looking like this in the delivery room.

Eyebrows, too. Do you like them thick

or do you prefer a 'surprised' look?

And I'll throw in a perm for free.

Right. How on earth

am I going to pay for Christmas? Eh?

Meat and sugar prices are up by 30%.

If I had a cripple or a baby at home,

I could skip the line at the shop...

And those bastards boast about

the falling cost of train engines. And?

- It works great. Like a Mercedes.

- What else did you expect?

- Only three of these in the whole city.

- I don't know how to repay you.

Let's leave through the back door.

You know how envious people get.

Krysia! Hurry up.

We're closing shop.

- It's a war out there!

- What?

The shipyard workers are out on the streets!

GDANSK:

14 DECEMBER,1970

IT'S gorgeous!

The city is in real turmoil.

What?

Beautiful.

How are you, Danuta?

I'll be right back.

- There's bloodshed in the streets.

- What are you saying?

Sell these if I don't come back.

Lech!

Lech!

People, control yourselves!

Calm down!

Calm down!

Go away!

Don't let them provoke you!

RysieK!

RysieK!

- How did it go?

- I have at least 30 signatures.

Last name?

Walesa.

- First name?

- Lech.

- Father's name?

- Boleslaw.

Date of birth?

September 29, 1943.

- Place?

- Popowo, Bydgoszcz district

- Occupation?

- Electrician.

What kind?

Walesa the Electrician.

- You want me to punch him?

- Wait.

Let the bastard show off.

Place of employment?

Gdansk Shipyards, Department W4,

I deal with installations.

- Address'?

- Gdansk, Beethoven S. 30d.

Education?

- Basic vocational school in Lipno.

- Marital status?

Married. That's the thing...

My wife's about to give birth

to our first child. She's all alone.

Hands on the table.

- Were you on the Strike Committee?

- I was.

- You were pushing for revolt.

- I'm all for compromise.

- You started a counter-revolution.

- It's the government that started it.

- You were seen demolishing shops.

- You set fire to the Committee Building.

But my wife... I don't even know

if it's a boy or a girl.

You'll find out... 5 years from now.

Hands on the table!

- I did not demolish anything.

- You were instigating a riot.

I was trying to stop them.

- We have 7 witnesses.

- I have a witness, too.

- Who? A Jehovah's witness?

- The local militia commander.

You wanted to overthrow the government.

- I was trying to calm people down.

- We'll see. Nawislak, call Walczewski.

Does "Walesa" ring a bell?

Walczewski says there was a guy

with a mustache trying to stop the riot.

Well, well. You're in luck.

Sign this, lucky guy.

And get out!

- What is this? A witness statement?

- None of your business. Sign it.

- And this.

- What's this?

Says here you will obey the law.

- Why should I sign this?

- Don't you want to obey the law?

- I do.

- Then sign it.

And this.

Sit!

What's this?

- You want me to be a snitch?

- Can't you read?

You will visit us as a consultant

from time to time.

To prevent further misfortune.

Do you want us to let you go?

We're all decent people here.

Don't worry about your family.

We'll take care of your son...

Son?

- ...and of your wife.

- I have a son...?

For now you do.

Are you signing it or not?

There are others waiting.

You're free to go, Walesa.

Danuta...

You're here...

My son.

I have a son.

They let you out.

Are you hurt?

Just an interrogation.

And then I signed something.

Lech, what did you sign?

They said they'd hurt you or the baby

so I would have signed anything

apart from the betrayal

of God or my country.

How did you get in here?

- Please get out.

- This is my son.

No visitors are allowed.

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