The extraordinary story of a Polish military formation - the 5th Polish Rifle Division (also known as the Siberian Division) - operating during the civil war in Russian Siberia. The soldiers were recruited from among Polish prisoners of war from the German and Austrian armies and Poles who found themselves in exile in Siberia.
Bohaterowie Sybiru: History, grit, and some very old soldiers
Is it worth your time?
If you have a thing for black-and-white war epics or just want to see how Polish cinema tackled its own history back in the day, you’ll probably find something to hold onto here. It’s not exactly a fast-paced thriller. If you need explosions every five minutes or modern editing, you will likely f...
This is a historical war drama about the 5th Polish Rifle Division and their wild, desperate trek through Siberia during the Russian Civil War. It’s a mix of old-school heroics, soldiers who were actually veterans of the January Uprising, and a long journey home that eventually leads to the 1920 conflict. It’s got that specific, slightly dusty charm of older cinema.
Synopsis
The extraordinary story of a Polish military formation - the 5th Polish Rifle Division (also known as the Siberian Division) - operating during the civil war in Russian Siberia. The soldiers were recruited from among Polish prisoners of war from the German and Austrian armies and Poles who found themselves in exile in Siberia. Among the soldiers there were even volunteers - exiles who fought in the January Uprising more than 50 years earlier (!). The unit fought alongside the "white" Russians and the Entente troops alongside Admiral Kolchak. After the victory of the Bolsheviks, the decimated division reached free Poland after a long and dangerous journey. The soldiers of the Siberian Brigade took part in the Polish-Bolshevik war in 1920 and contributed significantly to the victorious counter-offensive near Borków, Zawady and Joniec.
Review Excerpt
"Is it worth your time?
If you have a thing for black-and-white war epics or just want to see how Polish cinema tackled its own history back in the day, you’ll probably find something to hold onto here. It’s not exactly a fast-paced thriller. If you need explosions every five minutes or modern editing, you will likely fall asleep or check your phone within the first act.
Bohaterowie Sybiru is one of those movies that feels like it’s carrying a lot of weight. It’s trying to honor a very specific,..."
