Pola

Enwrapped in a fairytale-like atmosphere of summer breeze and warm sunshine, the film narrates a true story which revolves around coming-of-age and the consequences of an economic downturn. Unable to find work in her native Poland, Pola’s mother is forced to leave her family, a fate shared by many families in Eastern Europe. Though her younger sister is already looking forward to her mother’s return, Pola knows they won’t be seeing each other soon: that she runs away from home is motivated by both a desire for revenge and a sense of desperation.

As spirited and wild as the Polish countryside that surrounds her, Pola is wonderfully played by Marta Kosińska, with her every movement full of determination, passion and ultimately love. This makes the fateful turns the story takes all the more heart-rending. DJ