Green Border (Zielona granica)

Directed by: Agnieszka Holland
Poland, Czech Rep., Germany, France, Belgium, 2023, 147'

Cankarjev dom Cinema Green Border (Zielona granica)

Screenplay: Agnieszka Holland, Gabriela Lazarkiewicz-Sieczko, Maciej Pisuk
Cinematography: Tomasz Naumiuk
Music: Frédéric Vercheval
Cast: Jalal Altawil (Bašir), Maja Ostaszewska (Julia), Behi Djanati Atai (Leila), Mohamad Al Rashi (dedek), Dalia Naous (Amina), Tomasz Włosok (Jan), Jan Aleksandrowicz-Krasko, Agata Kulesza, Joely Mbundu, Jasmina Polak
Producent: Metro Films & Marlene Film Production & Blick Productions & Beluga Tree & Astute Films & Downey Ink. & dFlights sp. z o.o. & Saudade Film
Subtitles: Slovenian
Language: Polish, Arabic, English, French

Agnieszka Holland's new feature opens our eyes, urging us to reflect on the humanitarian crisis still unfolding on Europe's doorstep.

In the treacherous and swampy forests that make up the so called "green border" between Belarus and Poland, refugees from the Middle East and Africa trying to reach the European Union are trapped in a geopolitical crisis cynically engineered by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. In an attempt to provoke Europe, refugees are lured to the border by propaganda promising easy passage to the EU. Pawns in this hidden war, the lives of Julia, a newly minted activist who has given up her comfortable life, Jan, a young border guard, and a Syrian family intertwine.

We live in a world where it takes great imagination and courage to face all the challenges of modern times. The social media revolution and artificial intelligence have made it increasingly difficult for genuine voices to be heard. In my opinion, there is no point in engaging in art if one doesn't fight for that voice, if one doesn't fight to ask questions about important, painful, sometimes unsolvable issues that put us before dramatic choices. This is exactly the situation that's happening on the Polish-Belarusian border.
Agnieszka Holland

About director
Born in 1948 in Warsaw, Poland. As a student, Holland was arrested for political activism. graduated from FAMU in Prague film (1971). Holland began her film career working with Andrzej Wajda as her mentor. Her first feature film was Provincial Actors, the winner of the International Critics Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Her Angry Harvest, Europa Europa and In Darkness were nominated for Academy Awards. In 2020, she was elected President of the European Film Academy.