Ziemia Obiecana (Land of Promise) (The Promised Land) (1975)

The epic works as an observant and cynical look at Poland's social classes and industrialization.

Written and directed by Andrzej Wajda, "Promised Land" is a sprawling epic and graphic critique of laissez-faire capitalism. The pacing is not sedate like other period pieces. Rather, the movie set in 1885 in Lodz, Poland moves back and forth smoothly and quickly between workers and owners with a focus on Karol Borowiecki(Daniel Olbrychski) who manages a mill for Bucholz(Andrzej Szalawski) with ruthless efficiency, taking a second to mourn the loss of a worker's life before complaining about the damage to the fabric from the spilled blood. Only Horn(Piotr Fronczewski), a junior accountant, makes a statement in protest. Karol dreams of opening his own factory with his friends Moryc(Wojciech Pszoniak) and Maks(Andrzej Seweryn) at a time when the local mills are experiencing a time of great turmoil, especially with the tariffs being raised. So rough is the economy, that some mill owners are burning down their mills for the insurance money. Karol politely declines to help one friend who refuses to go the arson route, killing himself instead. His personal life is just as busy as his professional life as he juggles the attentions of three women - nouveau riche Mada(Bozena Dykiel) for the money, Anka(Anna Nehrebecka) for Poland and married Lucy(Kalina Jedrusik) who he should steer well clear of and is of course the most drawn to.