Open-Air Cinema at Toruń’s Historic Sites: Grossówna and Wajda
Two comedies starring Helena Grossówna and one of master filmmaker Andrzej Wajda’s most important works – film lovers in Toruń can look forward to three August evenings of open-air cinema. Admission is free.
According to the Toruń Cultural Agency (TAK), this year’s programme ties in with the Year of Helena Grossówna, established by the Toruń City Council to commemorate the outstanding Toruń-born actress and Home Army soldier. All screenings will take place outdoors against the backdrop of Toruń’s historic landmarks and are free of charge. Each screening begins at 9 p.m.
“This year’s open-air cinema programme combines classics of Polish cinematography with the unique atmosphere of historic locations. Audiences will be able to see both pre-war comedies starring Helena Grossówna and one of the most important works of post-war Polish cinema,” TAK announces. “Each screening will take place in a different and exceptional location in Toruń, making it not only a cinematic experience but also a remarkable outdoor event.”
On 13 August (Thursday), audiences at the ruins of the Teutonic Castle will see Michał Waszyński’s 1936 comedy Dodek na froncie (Dodek at the Front). Full of humour, the film follows the adventures of Dodek Wędzonka (Adolf Dymsza), who uses his wit and sense of humour to emerge unscathed from a series of wartime predicaments. Helena Grossówna plays Zuzia, a maid.
On 14 August (Friday), the ruins of Dybów Castle will host a screening of Man of Iron, one of Andrzej Wajda’s most important films and winner of the Palme d’Or at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival. The film portrays the events of August 1980 on the Baltic coast through the eyes of Winkel (Marian Opania), a journalist working for the communist regime who is tasked with preparing a report intended to discredit the leader of the strike at the Gdańsk Shipyard, Maciek Tomczyk (Jerzy Radziwiłowicz). Ultimately, however, the reporter turns against the communist authorities and sides with the workers.
On 5 September, Opania will receive the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Film Award named after Pola Negri for his “timeless acting performance” in Man of Iron.
The third August screening will take place on 16 August (Sunday) in the courtyard of the Old Town Hall. On a large screen beneath the starry sky, audiences will watch Zapomniana melodia (The Forgotten Melody), a 1938 musical comedy directed by Konrad Tom and Jan Fethke, with Helena Grossówna in one of the leading roles. The film gave rise to such hugely popular songs as Ach, jak przyjemnie! and Już nie zapomnisz mnie.
The Toruń City Council declared 2026 the Year of Helena Grossówna “in recognition of her artistic achievements and patriotic attitude, as well as to highlight the importance of her accomplishments for the development of Polish culture and cinema and for the promotion of the city of Toruń”.
Grossówna’s film career lasted only four years, but it was exceptionally prolific. The Toruń-born actress appeared in 17 productions alongside such pre-war stars as Eugeniusz Bodo and Adolf Dymsza. Piętro wyżej, Paweł i Gaweł, Zapomniana melodia, Serce matki and Królowa przedmieścia are just some of the films in which she appeared.
During the German occupation, Grossówna was actively involved in the resistance movement and served in the Home Army under the codename “Bystra”. She took part in the Warsaw Uprising, commanding the women’s “Sokół” battalion.
A roundabout at the intersection of Łokietka, Kościuszki and Chrobrego streets in Toruń, as well as one of the city’s trams, bears the name of Helena Grossówna. Thanks to the regional government, Grossówna’s historic family home was restored and relocated two years ago from PCK Street to Wola Zamkowa Street.
In cooperation with our Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund, journalist and history populariser Marek Teler published the book Helena Grossówna. Optymistką być in November. Earlier, the Marshal’s Office published the comic book Helena Grossówna. Nigdy nie trać nadziei.
Dariusz Czołgowski
11 August 2026