Description

Wolyn 2016
2h 30min | Drama, History, War | 7 October 2016 (Poland)

Storyline:

Despite being in love with a Ukrainian boy from the same village, Polish girl named Zosia is forced into marrying a wealthy widower. Soon World War II begins and ethnic tensions arise. Amidst the war chaos Zosia tries to survive.

User review:

Wow , I don’t think I’ve felt as sad after a film . Immediately it made me want to learn more about the history surrounding this period of the war .

First of all i’d warn you this film is graphic if you think about Rwanda you’ll be prepared . Poland in the 20th century stood on the political and aspirational fault line between Germany and Russia and became the battlefield of those two opposing forces . It’s history is intertwined with the rise and fall of the central and Eastern European empires namely Poland-Lithuania, Russia , Ukraine , Habsberg , Austria-Hungary , Nazi Germany , Naploeonic French Republic just to name a few and as a result the ethnic mix within its borders contains a volatile religious fault line between Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity . It’s this fault line that provides the plot of the film .

The script , costume , acting and cinematography all deserve praise . We start with the happiness of inter marriage weddings and the national songs that go along with that and end with destruction hatred and death , it’s not a happy film but it’s not a triumphant slice of history , it’s a period of time that man should be ashamed of how sick he can become when encouraged to by those who wear the cloth of god and should know better .

But it is an important film and I’m glad I’ve seen it but it really made me sad .

It’s definitely worth seeing but be prepared to lose your smile .

Director: Wojciech Smarzowski
Writer: Wojciech Smarzowski
Stars: Michalina Labacz, Arkadiusz Jakubik, Wasyl Wasylik
Country: Poland
Language: Russian | Yiddish | German | Polish | Ukrainian
Release Date: 7 October 2016 (Poland)
Also Known As: Volhxc3xadnia
Filming Locations: Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland