Product Description

Spectacular battles, rollicking humor, and lavish production values frame a sweeping romantic drama that all audiences will enjoy. At the time of its release, this lavish historical epic was the most expensive Polish film ever made. Based on the novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz (QUO VADIS?), this grand drama is set in 17th century Poland during the Cossack uprising against the Polish nobility. As the violent confrontation builds, a battle for the heart of a beautiful girl rages between a dashing Pole and a brutish Ukrainian. This is a special full-length version, including footage not in the original theatrical release.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31923 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-04-13
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: Polish, Tatar, Turkish, Ukrainian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 205 minutes

Customer Reviews

This film changed my life!
"With Fire and Sword" (Ogniem i Mieczem) was the film that started my interest in Polish cinema a few years ago. Its story, effects, and history amazed me. Watching the movie was a life-changing event for me on the level of being a spiritual and cultural experience. It ranks among the best I have ever watched and is one of my all time favorites.

"With Fire and Sword" is based on the first of a trilogy written by Henryk Sienkiewicz. It takes place in the 17th century, when Poland's borders were much wider than they are today. However, it also a time when nearly all of its neighbors invaded its land throughout the century. This story has it all. It is a love story and a war story. It is fairly lengthy, but considering it is an epic and covers an intricate story with so much happening, I loved every minute and feel it needs the time to fully portray the story.

Although the film should not be taken as an exact history, it is remarkable how many of the historical details do match up. In my study of this time by reading and though my involvement with a 17th century Polish-Lithuanian living history group, I am amazed on the volume of fine details that are accurate in the film. Regardless, the film is not a documentary but entertainment and that it is without any doubt.

Even people unfamiliar with Polish cinema may recognize some of its actors. Izabella Scorupco, who plays the leading lady in this film also played in the English speaking films "GoldenEye" and "Reign of Fire." Two men with very prominent parts in this movie (Michal Zebrowski and Zbigniew Zamachowski) also have small parts in Roman Polanski's "The Pianist." If you enjoy long historical movies, "With Fire and Sword" is a must.

This DVD is the TV version of the film, which is broken into four parts, with credits at the end of each part. There are voiceovers when those speaking Ukrainian talk, which obstructs hearing them. Often, the only difference between the Ukrainian and Polish is the accent. Personally, I find the voiceover to be a little annoying. On the plus side, the TV version has a few extra minutes of footage not in the theater version.

Stay away from this version! Missing subtitles!
Very disappointed by this two disc version.
1. They divided it into a 4 part screen play which doesn't flow as well as the movie
2. The subtitles often miss out part or are one sided so you miss what one character is saying completely.
3. There is a strange voice over some parts repeating what the characters just said in a monotone voice that completely ruins the movie and there is no way to turn it off.

This is a fantastic movie and one of my all time favourites, but steer clear of this version. Try to get the dual layer disc that has all the characters on the front cover.

DVD version of With Fire & Sword
This movie is great! It is in full screen mode, but it's so much better than the widescreen version no longer available. This movie was originally filmed to be a TV series of 4 episodes. When the widescreen movie came out, the distributors cut the movie up and there is about 10% of the movie missing. Polart has released the full length version, but unfortunately no widescreen version is available in Poland. The story is very good. This recently filmed movie has some of the most amazing costumes and battle scenes. It's a great story, and is based on historical events, so history buffs should love it.