In 1999, Steven Spielberg in his letter to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences wrote: “Film lovers honor him as one, of the most acclaimed directors in the history of film, one whose artistry has repeatedly brought the world's attention to European cinema. By striving to show both the loftiest heights and the darkest depths of the European soul, he has inspired all of us to re-examine the strength of our common humanity. Wajda belongs to Poland, but his films are part of the cultural treasure of all mankind.”