Synopsis
In recent years the political tension in Poland has been escalating unprecedentedly. This film presents the dramatic developments through the eyes of 2 women on opposite sides of the political barricade.
Marta and Tita are patriots. Both are proud of their country and its history, and they want only the best for it. But their attitudes could not be more different. While Marta wants a strong Poland, leads a paramilitary unit, promotes Christian values and supports the ruling conservative Law and Justice Party, Tita wants to be part of Europe, hates weapons, and believes that the government program The Good Change is an instrument to suppress liberal influences and will lead to a creeping reduction in civil rights, an infringement of democratic principles and constitutional changes. The director in no way judges his protagonists and their actions, instead presenting an impartial behind-the-scenes view of the camps of the feuding parties.
Director Biography – Konrad Szolajski
Wrote and directed documentary and fiction films, which were shown in cinema and broadcasted by TV stations and at many Polish and international festivals. He is known for satirical view on contemporary Poland and humorous approach to serious subjects including Polish national complexes and religiosity. Has worked as a film tutor at Warsaw University, Silesian University, Łodź Film School and SWPS University, was a member of the Polish TV Programing Board (1999 – 2003), has been a member of EDN since 2006. In 2005 he launched a new film production company ZK Studio which has produced fiction and documentary films with a strong social hook, aiming at international markets.
Previous films: The Battle with Satan (2015), Voices (2012), And God created sex… (2011), Seduction Camp (2010), Good Morning, Lenin! (2009), Entrappers (2006), The Fat to Bed, the Slim to the Ball (2006), Funeral People (2004)
Director Statement
We are witnessing a comeback of totalitarian rule similar to the one I remember from the communist past. Therefore I want to make a film which shows the roots of this situation and try to examine what is happening with the divided society, most likely approaching a violent conflict between Far Right militias, nationalists and those who still peacefully though unsuccessfully fight for democratic principles. But for how long peacefully? The moment of the clash is getting close. It makes me think about the time when communism was collapsing and Martial Law was used in order to keep communists in power in 1981. Polish history seems to be repeating what we have already experienced, today the repetition takes partially tragic, partially grotesque shape of nationalistic-clerical propaganda. History repeats itself first as tragedy then as farce – wrote Karl Marx quite rightly. But we have to live in this farce hoping it will end soon.
I believe my filmmaker’s obligation is to describe and explain what I see around me and pass it to people who want to watch it. If they are foreign, they will learn a bit about Poland, if Polish – they will get a mirror in which they can see the reflection of themselves. Maybe this will help to understand better the differences that divide the society which should try to find a solution that both sides could accept.
