Private Project

The Mystery of L72

On 16 June, 1942, the Polish escort destroyer, ORP Kujawiak, disappeared beneath the waters of the Mediterranean, struck by a mine while heroically coming to the aid of another vessel in relief convoy "Operation Harpoon." For over 70 years she would defy location. The thirteen men who perished with her would remain lost, an unresolved wound for their families and country.

One man would not rest until he found her.

This is the story of the Kujawiak, of her crew, their mission and the war that raged on the doorsteps of Malta, and of their final journey home. It is a true story of discovery, exploration, and closure - of acts of heroism, honor and loyalty connected over nearly a century.

  • Piotr KARDASZ
    Director
  • Piotr KARDASZ
    Writer
  • Peter WYTYKOWSKI
    Writer
  • Mariusz BOROWIAK
    Historical Survey
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    History, Undersea, Conservation, Exploration
  • Runtime:
    34 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 30, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Poland
  • Country of Filming:
    Malta, United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, RED, SLR, GoPro
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Międzynarodowy Festiwal Nurkowania Wrakowego (International Festival of Wreck Diving)
    Krakow
    Poland
    February 13, 2016
    Poland Premiere
Director Biography - Piotr KARDASZ

Peter Kardasz is a filmmaker and documentarian of diving and the underwater world. A wreck and cave diver, GUE diver, specialist in underwater videography and digital video editing. A graduate in Underwater Archaeology at the University of Warsaw, Peter has been diving for 10 years and filming underwater for 7 years. Peter is interested in film technology and equipment suitable for diving in difficult conditions, in the dark, and on the deep wrecks and in caves. He shares his passion in lectures and workshops in underwater videography. He has taken part in interesting and challenging projects and diving trips including: “Morpheus Project” – a project of scientific research in the caves of Croatia, “Reach DNA” – the search for wrecks in the Baltic Sea, “Sierra 2012” – the study and exploration of an 18th century wreck, the expedition under the auspices of The Explorers Club, “Crimea Project” – Warsaw University archaeological expedition, and the “Veneto Project” – a deep cave diving project. And most recently L72: A Forgotten Tragedy, an expedition to search, discover and dive for the very first time the wreck of ORP Kujawiak, famous Polish navy destroyer.

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