He then went on to write, produce and direct some of the biggest commercial successes of Polish cinema in the last decade.

I couldn't do everything I wanted," he said, "but everyone in Polish cinema was united, and we were good at negotiating with political authorities.

Polish cinema went through a relatively quick and much-needed transition in the late 1980s that mirrored political changes.

While some feared the end of Polish cinema, others saw it as a chance to catch up.

However, even though Western countries became increasingly interested in Polish cinema during this period, the country's film infrastructure and market was disintegrating.

The film is the third most popular in the history of Polish cinema, with 27,615,921 tickets sold in its native country until 1987.

Cybulski remains a legend of the Polish cinema.

One of the most prominent intellectuals to support the Solidarity movement, he is widely regarded as the leading director working today in Polish cinema.

Rejs is considered as a masterpiece by many and as the earliest cult film in Polish cinema.

The chronicle was for the first time presented in Polish cinemas on December 1, 1944.