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How I Unleashed World War II, Part I: The Escape

1970Movie1 h 26 min

Comedy
78
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.0

A nostalgic, tense comedy movie about history and war, with standout performances.

Good for family movie night · friends night · party vibe

Where to watch

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Not streaming in any country yet.

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Not for scares.

Movies with

Story

On the night of August 31, 1939, Dolas, from a platoon reinforcing a train station on the German border, falls asleep in a train car and unknowingly crosses into Germany. The moment he shoots a German, who he thinks is a saboteur, the German invasion of Poland begins, and Dolas is convinced it was his fault. He is taken to Stalag POW camp, the first destination in his odyssey around Europe.

Feels like

  • Absurd War Comedy
  • Polish Classic Cinema
  • Unwitting Instigator of WWII
  • Slapstick Historical Satire
  • Iconic Performance by Mieczysław Czechowicz
  • Bureaucratic Chaos in Wartime
  • Light-hearted yet Poignant
  • Cultural Staple in Poland

Cast

24 of 39

Crew

Directed by
Tadeusz Chmielewski
Written by
Tadeusz Chmielewski, Kazimierz Sławiński
Produced by
Michał Sosiński, Anna Rdest, Józef Drzewicki
Music by
Jerzy Matuszkiewicz

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 2, 1970 · 1 h 26 min · Violence, Strong Language

Released
April 2, 1970
Runtime
1 h 26 min
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Comedy, War, Adventure
Original language
Polish
Also spoken
Serbian (Latin), German
Made in
Poland

Q&A

6 questions, like "Is How I Unleashed World War II, Part I: The Escape worth watching?"

Questions about How I Unleashed World War II, Part I: The Escape

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is How I Unleashed World War II, Part I: The Escape worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78 (IMDb 8).

Is How I Unleashed World War II, Part I: The Escape okay for kids?

ViolenceStrong language

Yes: its content advisories are violence and strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will How I Unleashed World War II, Part I: The Escape make me laugh?

Very funny

Yes, a lot: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and absurd humor (9 of 10).

Is How I Unleashed World War II, Part I: The Escape plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (8 of 10) and character depth (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is How I Unleashed World War II, Part I: The Escape in English?

PolishSerbian (Latin)German

No, it was made in Polish, with some Serbian (Latin) and German.