Saviour’s Square (Plac Zbawiciela)

Set in contemporary Poland, this is the poignant story of a young married couple who lost the apartment of their dreams after the developer went bankrupt.

Bartek is heavily in debt and is reduced to asking his mother if he and his family can come and stay with them for a short period. After some time, the internal pressures and differing needs of the central characters provokes a series of unpleasant conflicts which in particular affects his wife Beata who becomes demoralised with her lack of privacy and the selfishness of her husband’s family. As their relationship gradually begins to disintegrate, Bartek suddenly flees the situation much to Beata’s chagrin, who resorts to very drastic measures.

The socio-ethical dimension of the film is taken from real life and reveals the injustices that can arise from the fledgling Polish capitalist state. We are witness to the ordinary ambitions, attitudes and destinies of an average Polish family grappling with the vagaries of the property market but also we are faced with the consequences of devious and irresponsible behaviour minus the inclination or will to show love and compassion. Despite having the utmost intentions, all the characters are unaware of each other’s needs. The only solution is to forgive.