Former President of the Republic of Poland Lech Wałęsa\'s Return to Capitol Hill with Showcasing Oscar Winner Andrzej Wajda\'s Film \"Wałęsa. Man of Hope\"

Lech Wałęsa’s life and legacy will be celebrated as he returns to Capitol Hill after twenty-four years since his address to a joint-session of Congress, for a viewing of Andrzej Wajda’s final part of his masterful trilogy, entitled “Wałęsa. Man of Hope”.  The movie will be shown in the United States Congressional Auditorium, at 7:30pm, Wednesday, December 4th.  It is a biopic tribute that depicts how Wałęsa grew from a regular worker at a time of popular protests, to a charismatic strike leader who negotiated with communist authorities, and finally to national hero and international statesman who won the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize. 

“I’m honored to welcome Lech Walesa back to the Capitol, where he gave his famous speech to Congress. When Lech Walesa jumped over the wall at the Gdansk Shipyard, he took the whole world with him. The Solidarity movement brought hope and democracy to Poland, and inspired so many more around the globe, including Polish Americans in my hometown of Baltimore. The United States and Poland are united by our beliefs – in freedom, in people, and in speaking truth to power. Today, we are strong democracies, true allies, and steadfast friends.”  says Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) 

Leading the on-stage discussion with President Wałęsa will be former Senator and current MPAA President, Christopher Dodd. Expected in attendance are Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, dignitaries, figures who played an instrumental role in supporting the Solidarity movement, as well as the film’s lead actor who portrayed Lech Wałęsa, Robert Więckiewicz. 

“I am delighted that Lech Wałęsa returns to the place where he famously addressed the Joint Session of Congress as the leader of Solidarity,” said Ambassador Schnepf. “His contributions promoting freedom for mankind are world-renowned. I am especially pleased that today we have the opportunity to highlight his achievements and his perseverance in Solidarity’s struggle to topple communism. Poland, as the vanguard for change, paved the way for democratization in Central and Eastern Europe and the eventual collapse of the Berlin Wall.” 

Poland has nominated this movie as the Polish candidate for the Academy Awards in the foreign-language film category.  It is the final part of a trilogy by Oscar-winning director Andrzej Wajda, following his prior Man of Marble (1977) and Man of Iron (1981).