303 Squadron[a] is a 2018 biographical war film directed by Denis Delić, written by Jacek Samojłowicz, Krzysztof Burdza, and Tomasz Kępski, and produced by Samojłowicz. It was produced by Film Media in Poland and United Kingdom, and distributed by Mówi Serwis, and features dialogues in English, Polish, German, and French. The film was based on the 1942 book Squadron 303 by Arkady Fiedler. It depicts the history of the members of the No. 303 Squadron, the Polish squadron of the Royal Air Force, which fought in the Battle of Britain, during the Second World War. The film premiered on 31 August 2018.[1]

303 Squadron
Directed byDenis Delić
Screenplay by
Based onSquadron 303 by Arkady Fiedler
Produced byJacek Samojłowicz
Starring
CinematographyWaldemar Szmidt
Edited by
Music byŁukasz Pieprzyk
Production
company
Film Media
Distributed byMówi Serwis
Release date
  • August 31, 2018 (2018-08-31)
Running time
99 minutes
CountriesPoland
United Kingdom
LanguagesEnglish
Polish
German
French

Plot edit

In 1940, during the Second World War, following the Invasion of Poland, and the Fall of France, the pilots of the Polish Air Force escape to the United Kingdom, where they join Royal Air Force. They become members of newly formed No. 303 Squadron, the Polish squadron, which participates in the Battle of Britain against the Nazi Germany Luftwaffe. Initially, the British officers are reluctant towards Polish pilots, however, they gradually win them over with their successes in the fight. Among the Polish pilots are the squadron commander Witold Urbanowicz, and pilot Jan Zumbach.[1][2]

Cast edit

Production edit

The film was based on the 1942 book Squadron 303 by Arkady Fiedler. It depicted the history of the members of the No. 303 Squadron, the Polish squadron of the Royal Air Force, which fought in the Battle of Britain, during the Second World War. The movie was directed by Denis Delić, and written by Jacek Samojłowicz, Krzysztof Burdza, and Tomasz Kępski, and produced by Samojłowicz. The cinematography was done by Waldemar Szmidt, scenography by Marian Zawaliński, costumes by Małgorzata Skorupa, and editing by Peter Devaney Flanagan and Marcin Bastkowski.[1]

The preparations for production began in February 2016.[3] The filming began on 10 August 2016 and lasted until 17 October 2017. It was produced by Film Media in Poland and United Kingdom, and distributed by Mówi Serwis. The scenes were filmed in Poland, in Konstancin-Jeziorna, Drwalew, Obory, Warsaw (Warsaw University of Life Sciences and Sabat Theatre), and Kraków (Polish Aviation Museum).[1]

For the production were rented Hawker Hurricane Mk.XII, and de Havilland Tiger Moth. Two replicas of Hawker Hurricane planes were also made. After the end of the filming, they were donated to the 303 Squadron Museum in Napoleon, Silesian Voivodeship, and the Arkady Fiedler Museum in Puszczykowo, Greater Poland Voivodeship.[3]

The film was promoted with the single "Tylko Ty" by Edyta Górniak, which was released on 27 August 2018.[4]

303 Squadron premiered on 31 August 2018.[1]

Accolades edit

Accolades received by WALL-E
Award Year Category Recipients Result
Fly Film Festival[5] 2018 Grand Prix Won
NNW International Film Festival[6] Door to Freedom Won
Polish Film Festival in America[7] Audience Award Won
Strażnik Pamięci[8] Denis Delić Nominated
Polish Film Award[9] 2019 Best Sound Bartosz Putkiewicz Nominated
Złoty Bilet[10] Won
Węże[11][12] Embarrassing Film About Important Topic Won
Special Care Effect (worst filming mistake) Won
Worst Poster Won
Worst Music Video Edyta Górniak for "Tylko Ty" Won
Worst Director Denis Delić Nominated

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Polish: Dywizjon 303. Historia prawdziwa, literally meaning 303 Squadron. The True Story

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Dywizjon 303. Historia prawdziwa". filmpolski.pl (in Polish).
  2. ^ "Dywizjon 303. Historia prawdziwa". lok.art.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2018-09-05.
  3. ^ a b Grzegorz Sobczak: Dywizjon 303 po 78 latach, In: Skrzydlata Polska, no. 8(2466). 2018, pp. 24–26. (in Polish)
  4. ^ "Edyta Górniak i piosenka 'Tylko Ty'. Promuje film o Dywizjonie 303 [WIDEO]". radiozet.pl (in Polish).
  5. ^ "Fly Film Festival 2018 – Laureaci X edycji". dlapilota.pl (in Polish).
  6. ^ "Gala Zamknięcia X Festiwalu NNW". festiwalnnw.pl. 3 October 2018.
  7. ^ "NAGRODY 30. FESTIWALU FILMU POLSKIEGO W AMERYCE". pffamerica.org (in Polish). 19 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Nagrody Strażnik Pamięci 2018 wręczone". piotrowska.dorzeczy.pl (in Polish). 6 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Orły 2019: Triumf 'Zimnej wojny', 'Kamerdynera' i 'Kleru'. Oto nominowani do 'polskich Oscarów'". wprost.pl (in Polish). April 2019.
  10. ^ "Forum Wokół Kina". facebook.com (in Polish).
  11. ^ "Węże 2019 - NOMINACJE. Które polskie filmy uznano za najgorsze? [LISTA]". radiozet.pl (in Polish).
  12. ^ "Rozdano Węże dla najgorszych polskich filmów. Wśród laureatów m.in. Olbrychski i Roznerski". wprost.pl (in Polish). April 2019.

External links edit