By E. Graydon Carter

He was in a way Solidarity's cinematic messenger, a director whose films, including Man of Marble and Man of Iron, were surprisingly critical of life in Communist Poland. Rounded up along with other Solidarity dissidents during the Polish government's declaration of martial law last December, Andrzej Wajda, 56, was held under house arrest. Then, in a reversal, Polish authorities decided to let him leave Poland temporarily to shoot a film in Paris. Wajda, whose Man of Iron was nominated for an Oscar, has refused all interviews in France. But in a formal statement, he did say, "The message of my films these past 25 years has been the need to prevent [Poland] from falling into the state it has found itself." The message of his new movie could be even stronger. To be called Danton, it is based on the life of the fiery, outspoken French revolutionary champion of democratic rule.

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When the Los Angeles Dodgers' training camp opened this month, the club and Pitching Sensation Fernando Valenzuela, 21, were talking money but found themselves in different ballparks. Fernando and his agent, former Actor Tony De Marco, were asking for about $1 million a year, but would settle for a package reportedly totaling $850,000. Los Angeles is willing to pay $350,000. Unable to bridge the gap, the lefthander picked up his glove and went back to Fernando's Hideaway in Mexico. Said Valenzuela, who earned $42,500 last year: "We are flexible. Why can't they be?"

It's Idi Amin Dada, all right, shapeless thobe robes, ghutra headgear and all. The onetime President-for-Life of Uganda, who fled from his country three years ago, has lived a relatively secluded and uncharacteristically quiet existence in Jidda, Saudi Arabia. From an interview with a Turkish journalist, Leyla Umar, it is evident that Amin is as feisty and fanciful as ever. He commented on President Reagan ("I don't like him any more") and told of how his fellow Ugandans pine for his return. The former dictator shed 20 Ibs. so he could beat his offspring in swimming races. He says he lost the weight in one week by eating smaller portions. "If I can lose several more pounds," he says, "no one will be able to beat me, whether here or anywhere else on earth."

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It was a meeting of perhaps the two most photographed women in the world, Actress Elizabeth Taylor, 50, and Diana, Princess of Wales, 20. Taylor was in London to perform in her Broadway hit, The Little Foxes. Diana turned up in the royal box of the Victoria Palace Theater to catch Queen Liz in action. At the end of the show, the Princess trooped backstage. "Thank you for a lovely performance," said Diana. When asked for a rundown of their chat, Taylor was uncharacteristically closemouthed. "I was more than thrilled to meet her," said Liz, "but I never discuss private conversations."

--By E. Graydon Carter

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