ON TOUR IN THE HAGUE
EASY LESSONS + POLONAISE

Watch two exciting documentaries from Hungary and Poland with us in Laaktheater in the Hague! The ENFF presents Easy Lessons by Dorrottya Zurbo, a poetic and captivating journey of a refugee in today’s Hungary, learning to adapt to her new life.

Screening will be followed by short documentary Polonaise by Agnieszka Elbanowska. Hilarious, quite satirical, yet very seriously observational, straightforward, smartly directed documentary that deals with new trends in Polish society, politics and everyday life as they strongly affect Poland’s young generation.

EASY LESSONS BY DOROTTYA ZURBO

On the brink of adulthood, beautiful Somalian Kafia breaks free from everything she grew up with.

Synopsis

Kafia is 17 years old. Two years ago she fled to Europe escaping from a child marriage in Somalia. She has been living in a state children’s home in Budapest ever since. She learns the Hungarian language, goes to high school, prepares for the graduation exam and dreams about a modeling career. On the surface, everything seems fine. However, behind that beautiful and confident appearance lies a heavy heart. Her repetitive daily routine revolves around constant dilemmas and self-doubt about leaving behind her Muslim culture and everything else she grew up with. As she lets the camera get closer to her, the film slowly becomes an intimate confession. What does it mean to break with your past and fully give yourself up to a new life in Europe?

FILM DETAILS

Country: Hungary
Year: 2018
Length: 78 min
Director: Dorrotya Zurbo
Editing: Peter Sass
Cinematography: Natasha Pavlovskaya
Cast: Kafiya Said Mahdi
Sound: Rudolf Varhegyi H.A.S.E.
Music: Adam Balazs
Production: Julianna Ugrin – Eclipse Film

POLONAISE by Agnieszka Elbanowska

Hilarious, quite satirical, yet very serious observational, straightforward, smartly directed documentary that deals with new trends in Polish society, politics and everyday life affecting very much the young generation.

Synopsis

On Poland’s National Independence Day, the jury consisting of the director, the mayor, a priest and a poetess chooses the winner of a competition for the region’s number one patriot. The director of the Cultural Centre in a provincial town announces a competition. Participants have to creatively present what patriotism means for them. The only requirement is that everyone must come up with their own ideas on the subject. Singing, recitation, gesture, speech, staging – all forms are allowed.  As Independence Day on November 11 approaches, the tension is raising. The jury will soon choose the best patriot in the region. Famous Polish producer Studio Munka and the director who is a graduate of well-respected Wajda documentary school, made a film that echoed so well around the world and was chosen for dozens of film festivals.

FILM DETAILS

Original title: Polonez
Country: Poland
Year: 2016
Length: 16 min
Director: Agnieszka Elbanowska
Screenplay: Agnieszka Elbanowska
Cinematography: Pawel Chorzepa
Editing: Agnieszka Elbanowska
Cast: Andrzej Ciesla, Arkadiusz Gralak, Grzegorz Molewski, Wanda Wasicka
Production: Ewa Jastrzebska – Studio Munka, Bartek Glinski – Impakt films