Wajda and Samsonowicz awarded Warsaw citizenship

Wajda is a world-renowned director who has often touched upon the story of the Warsaw Rising in his films – particularly “Kanał” (“Canal”, 1957).

“Warsaw is a place where one can see everything clearly, where in this grey and neutral everyday life of the PRL [Polish People’s Republic] everything gathered some colour, some life. And most importantly – this is where I had the greatest friends,” Wajda said.

“There is no Polish history without the history of Warsaw, just as there is no contemporary history without [taking into consideration] the history of Poland. That is why the diploma which I got today is a special honor for me, not only on a personal level, but also professionally,” Samsonowicz said.

The 85-year-old historian acted as education minister under Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Poland's first non-communist Prime Minister (in office 1989-1991).

A tradition

The ceremony was held during an extraordinary session of the Council at the Royal Castle in Warsaw on Friday, a day before the main celebrations of 71st anniversary of the Warsaw Rising.

Warsaw Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz said that such sessions on the eve of the anniversary of the Rising have become a tradition in the Polish capital.

“For us it is a very solemn event, because it is the moment when we remember the tragic history of the capital, but also trying to appreciate our present, which is formed by a number of prominent residents of Warsaw. And today we host them in this room,” said Gronkiewicz-Waltz. (rg/rk)