“IN THE REARVIEW” WINS IN ZURICH
The film by Maciek Hamela was named best documentary at the Zurich Film Festival.
The first edition of the Zurich Film Festival was held in 2005. Viewers and industry members noticed the event very quickly. It soon became one of the most important film events in the region. In 2022, approximately 130 thousand viewers, more than 500 accredited journalists, and 800 industry professionals visited the festival. No wonder, as the ZFF features the most interesting productions from all over the world, as well as numerous accompanying events.
One of the titles featured in this year's program was Maciek Hamela's documentary. In the Rearview captivated the jury and won the award for best documentary.
The winning film captures the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Suspended in time and space, facing an uncertain here and now, a group of people decides to abandon what's most precious to them and without hesitation get into a dusty van on foreign plates. The car covers thousands of kilometres, serving various functions: a waiting room, a hospital, a shelter, and above all, a space for confessions and admissions, which the fellow travellers start to share naturally. In The Rearview is a collective portrait composed of the experiences of people who have one goal: to find a safe haven. In the van, their temporary asylum, differences of gender, age, skin colour, physical ability, origin, identity, views, or beliefs fade away altogether. In the Ukrainian and Polish titles (Zvidky kudy, Skąd dokąd), “where from” (звідки / zvidky) and “where to” (куди / kudy) are also routine questions asked when passing through numerous checkpoints scattered all across Ukraine.
You can find out more about the festival here.