Fresh university graduates, Asia and Marek bought an old house near the eastern border of Poland, in the Białowieża Forest, the oldest forest in Europe. This is their own paradise – a place where their children can grow up safely, away from the problems of today’s world. For Marysia, Ignacy and Franek the forest is their second home, tamed and trusted. Yet one day, their forest changes as Strangers and Others show up. Refugees, unwelcome neither in Poland, nor in Belarus. The whole family helps refugees, even though it’s against Polish law. But how can you not help another person in need? The children’s world changes radically. They no longer play a knight and a princess, but a refugee and Border Guards. Big politics came knocking on their door and nothing was the same anymore.
- duration:
- 84 min
- country / year of production:
- Poland, Czech Republic / 2024
- director:
- Lidia Duda
- cinematography:
- Zuzanna Zachara-Hassairi
- selected festivals and awards:
- 2023 – MDAG Industry, Warsaw: The CANAL+ Poland Award for the best presentation, 2024 – Thessaloniki IFF: The Silver Alexander Award in the International Competition
