"The Promised Land" directed by Andrzej Wajda is a masterpiece and considered by many film experts to be one of the most outstanding Polish films of all time. Among the people of Łódź, Wajda's work has the status of a cult film. Half a century has passed since its premiere on 21, February, 1975 and when "The Promised Land" subsequently received an Oscar nomination in 1976.

The exhibition at the Film Museum will feature Andrzej Wajda's original notes from the time "The Promised Land" was being made. The historic interiors of the Karol and Anna Scheibler palace, where Wajda shot important scenes are where costumes from the film are displayed. At the exhibition, we will present a film prepared by the Museum, in which the co-creators talk about the masterpiece: actors Daniel Olbrychski, Andrzej Seweryn, Wojciech Pszoniak, Anna Nehrebecka and the creators: the second director Jerzy Domaradzki, costume designer Barbara Ptak, make-up artist Anna Adamek, assistant production manager Waldemar Król, second set designer Andrzej Haliński, editor Halina Prugar-Ketling, conservators Wojciech Walczak and Małgorzata Laurentowicz-Granas. The official premiere of "The Promised Land" took place at the Relax cinema in Warsaw on 21, February, 1975. The film was very well received by the audience. In the year of its premiere, the film attracted audiences numbering over six and a half million viewers; "The Promised Land" won the most important Polish awards, including the Golden Lions at the festival in Gdańsk.

When Andrzej Wajda learned that "The Promised Land" had won the plebiscite for the best Polish and foreign films, conducted in 2015 by the Film Museum in cooperation with the Polish Filmmakers Association and the University of Lodz on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of cinema (the films were nominated by directors, cinematographers, actors, screenwriters, editors, production designers, film experts and critics), he emphasized how important recognition in the eyes of his colleagues was to him. He wrote then in a letter commenting on the results of the plebiscite: "I must share my success with Reymont, because I have never had better material for a film in my life and also with the city of Łódź, which in these years was pushed to the margins by other cities which were being rebuilt after the war, but has retained its 19th-century character from the past, waiting for me."
In 2000, the director had the film re-edited and shortened by 30 minutes. The Film Museum exhibition pays tribute to the master of cinema and his brilliant work, as well as to all the co-creators of "The Promised Land".

The Senate of the Republic of Poland has declared 2025 the year of Władysław Reymont, and the City Council of Łódź has declared 2025 the year of the "Promised Land". The exhibition Half a Century of the "Promised Land" is a tribute to Andrzej Wajda and the co-creators of his masterpiece.

The exhibition Half a Century of "The Promised Land" is co-financed by the City of Łódź and the Polish Filmmakers Association.

The Film Museum invites you to the opening of the exhibition on 13, February (Thursday) at 5 p.m. The exhibition will be open to the public from 14, February to 4, May, 2025.

Team of curators: Rafał Andrzejczak, Marzena Bomanowska, Anna Michalska, Zuzanna Woźniak