AllMovie

Filmed in Poland, Casimir the Great is a lavish two-part biopic. The titular Casimir (played by Krzystof Chamiec) was a 14th century Polish hero who brought his backward country into the "modern" world. Part One details Casimir's rise to power after the death in 1333 of his father, Prince Wladyslaw I. Part Two shows Casimir restoring the monarchy to Poland, expanding the kingdom, challenging the Ottoman Empire, and gaining cultural acceptance for his homeland in the courts of Europe. The lack of a male heir leads to a dissension after Casimir's death in 1370. Though available on videotape, Casimir the Great is virtually unknown outside of Poland.