Green Border

Movies like "Green Border" are tricky. If you're watching it in the first place, you likely already have some awareness of and empathy for the plight of refugees and migrants who are being demonized around the world. If you need to be convinced that they are deserving of empathy, you're probably not ever going to watch this movie. So the onslaught of suffering we are subjected to feels like punishment, like we're being lectured on something we already believe.

I thought I might bail on this movie at about the 30-minute mark. That first half hour is misery porn about a Syrian family trying to make its way across the Belarus/Poland border and the inhumanity they face. I felt for them, but didn't want to watch a movie that was just going to throw in my face misery that I already feel bad about. But veteran director Agnieska Holland had something more varied in mind for this film, and the perspective switches multiple times to show events from the perspective of a Polish border guard, a group of activists trying to help the refugees, and a psychotherapist who turns her outrage into action and joins the cause.

"Green Border" is a well made movie, and it's pretty engrossing. But there's something a little too narratively slick about it. I've seen documentaries about the refugee crisis, and though it tries, this movie doesn't capture the visceral, life or death desperation of those films. Maybe it's not fair to ask it to, but it's hard to feel completely satisfied by this movie's fictional version of what's happening in the world when the real thing is being documented and made available. If this had been my first exposure to the refugee crisis, I might have found it to be more searing than I did. And there's something a little naive about it too. It's very simple in its ideology. All of the refugees and anyone on their side is good, anyone working against the refugees is bad, and there's no nuance or attempt to address the complicated social impact of large masses of people entering countries without the resources to support them. In this movie's version, if we all just open our borders and welcome whoever wants to come in, we'll all live together in a utopian society and won't that be wonderful. But that's not the way the world works. I'm one of the first to wish it did, but I'm more realistic than that. I wish this movie had been more realistic about it too.

But all that aside, it is still a very effective movie, and I found myself more enraged than depressed by it. I'm afraid I might be one of the ineffectual liberals criticized in the movie, people who feel bad about what's happening but don't actually do anything about it. To be fair to myself, I'm not sure exactly what it is I'm supposed to be doing, but still, movies like this make me want to just go out in the world and help someone, anyone, so I guess this film serves a valuable purpose in that regard.

Grade: A.

At the begining i must say, i'm from Poland and i was very curious about this movie, as i was pretty familiar with volunteers stories, i had an opportunity to talk with few of them, a few medics and just regular people that wanted to help. Outside all the media coverage both private and national, i've read a lot of memories and interviews with people, both with volunteers' as well as the border guards and people living in the area. Some of them were really brutal, raw and just... sickening.

This movie is something i wanted to check out, to see if all the criticsm in (mostly far right) media was justified. And i'm really happy i checked it myself.

The cinema i was watching the movie in, was pretty much full, except for the first 3-4 rows, and the movie ended, everyone was just quiet. Like if everybody needed a minute to think. People only started talking in the main hall / outisde of the cinema.

In my opinion movie mixes some of the real events with a bit of fake scenarios, some scenes were probably a bit exaggerated, but on the other hand, seeing photos and videos that were recorded on the real border, i think it's a good move by the creators of the movie.

I believe that movies like "The Green Border" are highly needed in our society. Society that often listen to only just one side of the story, without even trying to hear what others have to say. That's what all the buzz surrounding this movie came from. Just a lot of people, that didn't even seen it, criticise it to gain something. Especially now, right before elections in Poland.

Putting politics aside... It's just a good movie. With a very good acting, pretty good cinematography and remarkable importance for everyone, who's not aware of the humanitarian crisis, happening to this day at Polish-Belarusian border.

To summarize... I think this movie is for everyone, who's not afraid of criticism of their beloved party, state services or his own morals. This movie may leave you with some heavy emotions, thoughts and it's deafinately not an easy movie to watch. But i trully belive, everybody should check it on his own, with open mind and being ready to hear and see uncomfortable truth.

I won't deny that I was prompted to watch the film right after the Polish premiere by how extremists in the government try to use it to their advantage by throwing around statements that are subject to Godwin's law in normal discourse, which at the same time obscures the message and power of the picture. The second reason was my interest in the subject matter covered - for the past two years I have been hearing about the events that have been fictionalized in this powerful and emotionally stirring film. The situation in Ukraine, Belarus, the constant information war and disinformation on the part of Belarus and Russia, the visa scandal in which the government is involved, the dying refugees in the border area between Poland and Belarus.

The visual layer of the film is flawless. The story is told in an intriguing, engaging way, and there are several memorable moments, including some dialogues that, curiously enough, show the surprising self-irony of the middle class supporting the neoliberal opposition. The script and acting were not always flawless, although this did not detract too much from the overall reception of the film, as the film defends itself primarily through its imagery. It is truly unforgettable. I recommend it from the bottom of my heart.

Agnieszka Holland's *Green Border* (*Zielona granica*) is a powerful and unflinching portrayal of the humanitarian crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border. Through the intersecting stories of a Syrian refugee family, an Afghan English teacher, and a conflicted border guard, the film sheds light on the harrowing realities faced by those caught in the no-man's-land of geopolitical conflict.

Jalal Altawil delivers a heart-wrenching performance as the father of the Syrian family, embodying both resilience and despair. Maja Ostaszewska portrays the Afghan teacher with a quiet strength that anchors her story, while Behi Djanati Atai adds nuance to the role of a border guard torn between duty and conscience. Together, their narratives create a tapestry of human suffering, hope, and moral ambiguity.

Holland's direction is both compassionate and unrelenting, refusing to shy away from the brutality of the situation. The stark, desolate visuals of the borderlands, captured with haunting beauty, underscore the desperation of those trapped in this liminal space. The screenplay, co-written by Holland, Maciej Pisuk, and Gabriela Lazarkiewicz, navigates complex themes of humanity, politics, and survival without resorting to simplifications or clichés.

At 2 hours and 32 minutes, the film's runtime allows for a thorough exploration of its characters and their plights, though some viewers may find the pacing demanding. Nevertheless, the emotional impact and urgent relevance of *Green Border* make it a vital watch.

This is a film for those who seek stories that challenge and provoke, offering no easy answers but demanding empathy and reflection. *Green Border* is a haunting reminder of the human cost of political indifference.

Rating: 8/10 - A deeply moving and essential portrayal of a modern humanitarian crisis.

I loved the different perspectives this movie shown, at first tho i was scared that they would show all guards and people there as bad ones. It is not all black and white like that. There was some things that this movie omitted, but i think the message still is valid. We should all be treated in humanly way, you know. As a sensitive person this movie hit me hard, the pregnant woman scene, like WHO can be heartless like that. I am also big fan of french music, so i loved 'Mourir mille fois' in the soundtrack. Anyway, if u think about watching this movie, than i think its a great way of spending sad autumn afternoon. For sure you will think about this movie for a while. ( If you dont find feelings, emotions etc. Interesting than maybe dont go, cos you will not get the point and probably you'll be bored). Have a nice day people :)