STRIKE

The latest film from Oscar-winning director Volker Schlöndorff, who was born in Wiesbaden, is a historical drama about the history of the Solidarność labour movement in Poland. Agnieszka (Katharina Thalbach), a crane driver working at the Gdansk shipyard, is wholly supportive of the politics of the works management. But then she witnesses a fatal accident that effective safety measures might have prevented, and decides to take action against the catastrophic and inhumane conditions to which the workforce is exposed. The management does its utmost to stifle the “rebels” and to silence Agnieszka with dirty tricks and intrigues – but without success. Together with her colleague Lech, she distributes provocative political leaflets and gains the solidarity of the workforce. Their goals are to achieve more rights, an independent trade union, and adequate wages. And eventually the Polish government can no longer ignore a labour movement that has gained the notice of the world…