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A post-war love story, a face transplant recipient's ordeal and a dark Christmas tale are among the stories being screened as the Arts Centre's popular Polish Film Festival returns for its sixth year.
Running from 1 to 5 July, the annual event aims to showcase the wealth of talent and creativity present in modern Polish filmmaking.
The festival begins on Monday 1 July with Mug (Twarz), a 2018 drama film from director Malgorzata Szumowska.
The film, which won the Jury Grand Prix at the Berlin Film Festival in 2018, tells the strange and moving story of Jacek, who is seen as an eccentric by his family and small town neighbours. After a devastating accident at work, Jacek must undergo a face transplant, transforming his life forever.
Video: Mug (Twarz) won the Jury Grand Prix at the Berlin Film Festival.
The following day, Academy-award nominated Cold War (Zimna Wojna) will be screened. Set in the 1950s across Poland, Germany, Yugoslavia and France, it follows the passionate love story of a man and a woman who meet in the ruins of post-war Poland. With vastly different backgrounds and personalities, they are complete opposites, but are compelled to be together.
Birds are Singing in Kigali (Ptaki spiewaja w Kigali), directed by Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze, will follow on 3 July. In 1994 in Rwanda, Anna, a Polish ornithologist, rescues Claudine, a Tutsi refugee, from an uncertain fate.
Following Claudine's journey in Poland, the eye-opening drama is strengthened by powerful acting performances and a moving storyline.
Pictured: All screenings will take place at the Arts Centre.
The penultimate film in the festival will be a screening of Breaking the Limit (Najlepszy) on 4 July.
The film tells the true story of endurance athlete Jerzy Gorski, who set a world record in the 1990 World Triathlon Championships Double Ironman Competition. This biopic portrays a man who found himself on the verge of annihilation, only to overcome his addictions and succeed in the most unbelievable fashion.
The final film of the 6th Polish Film Festival will be Silent Night (Chica Noc) on 5 July.
Video: Silent Night (Chica Noc) will be shown at 20:00 on 5 July.
Adam, the film's main protagonist, decides to unexpectedly visit in his family home at Christmas time, after years of working abroad. Adam tries to mend his family’s broken relationships, confronting his younger brother’s unexplained resentment, the abuse his sister is suffering at the hands of her husband, his father’s struggle with alcoholism, and his sour mother.
Organisers are encouraging all islanders - native Polish speakers, foreign film buffs, and even just those looking for a night of cinematic entertainment - to come and enjoy one of more of the films.
All films will be screened at 20:00 in Polish with English subtitles.
Pictured top: A still from Cold War (Zimna Wojna), which will be screened on Tuesday 2 July.
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