General and Daisies

A simple Polish man, Władek Lekowski, a former pilot, finds himself in exile after World War II due to a ridiculous accident. Poor and without a job or shelter, he sleeps on the beach. There, he meets and falls in love with Zosia, another Polish emigrant. Determined to get Zosia out of the bar where she works, performing “a little acrobatics and a little undressing,” Władek embarks on a mysterious mission as part of an airplane crew. During the flight, it becomes clear that he has fallen into the hands of militarists and the plane is supposed to drop a bomb on the Soviet Union. Realising that the fate of World War III now rests in his hands, Władek is forced to confront his own actions and the consequences of his choices.

Directed by Mikheil Chiaureli, General and Daisies leans on a strong ensemble — Bruno O'Ya, Veriko Anjaparidze, Sofiko Chiaureli — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1963.