REVIEWS OF "OBJECT" BY PAULINA SKIBIŃSKA AND "THE QUEEN OF SILENCE" BY AGNIESZKA ZWIEFKA
"The queen of silence" by Agnieszka Zwiefka and "Object" by paulina Skibińska are two recent Polish documentaries that start their festival life now. The former had its world premiere at IDFA festival in November, the latter will have its world premiere in January at Sundance festival. Daniel Stopa from Polish Docs team reviewed both films.
10-year old, deaf and mute Denisa lives with her family on an illegal gypsy encampment in the outskirts of Wrocław. Just like other inhabitants of this settlement, she experiences poverty, exclusion and dislike of the society. Such a description can only be a harbinger of yet another bleak, interventionist documentary about poor children. However, Zwiefka does not use this point of view, believing that because she points the camera at the gypsy girl, she has to tell the story through Denisa’s eyes. Such a view is usually rather naive, innocent and incomplete - as it happens to children - but also sincere and full of emotions.
The full review can be found here.
In her nearly fifteen-minute long documentary début, "Object," Paulina Skibińska tells about the work of a rescue team from the point of view of a diver. The film is set on the border of two worlds - on land, somewhere in the province, as well as underwater. It is this border between two different worlds and the boundary of human strength and endurance which seems to interest the director the most. It is visible in the scenes in which the main protagonist emerges from the water. For a long time, the camera watches his face, first hidden under the mask, later without breathing apparatus. The diver's face shows everything - fatigue, hardship and emotions, which accompanied him on this dangerous expedition.
The full review can be found here.