Katyn Forest

ProducedbyAndrzejWajda,this55-minutefilmprobesthemassacreofalmostfifteenthousandPolishofficersduringWorldWarII.Foralongtime,thisatrocitywasattributedtotheNazis,butitwasreallytheworkofRedArmy.(Atitlestatesthatthefilmwasmadebeforethetruthwaspubliclyacknowleged.)Therearethreeparts:in(1)&quot;Voyage&quot;,childrenofthevictimstraveltotheplace,mainlythecampofKozielsk,whichasurvivorofKatyndescribes:forty-fivehundredwereinternedthere,thenledtotheforest,shot,andputinamassgrave.In(2)&quot;Politique&quot;,afterseeingarchivalfootageofcorpses,welearnthatChurchillallegedlyaskedtheheadofthePolishgovernmentinexiletosaytheperpetratorswereGerman,notSoviet.AlmostasbadisthefactthattheU.S.SecretServicedestroyed(onRoosevelt'sorders)papersthatthePoleshadsenthimabouttherealmurderers-evenbeforehereadthem.In(3)&quot;Witnesses&quot;,wemeetWanda,thedaughterofamurderedPolishofficer.Shetriestogetpeoplewholiveneartheforesttotalk,buttheyarestillfrightened.However,anotherwomancajoles(inRussian)heroldfathertotellthetruth.HeadmitsthathewasforcedtosigntheoppositeofwhathappenedatKatyn.ThefilmrevealsthattheStalinistswerejustascapableastheNazisofcold-bloodedcarnage-evenoftheirownallies.<br/>　　AnnetteInsdorf-&quot;Indelibleshadows:filmandtheHolocaust&quot;