Sharmill Films is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of Green Border, directed by three-time Oscar nominee Agnieszka Holland, hitting Australian cinemas nationwide on 28 November 2024. This stirring political drama dives deep into the humanitarian crisis unfolding at the “green border” between Belarus and Poland. Renowned for films like Europa Europa, Holland has once again crafted a haunting and socially resonant work. Green Border has already received critical acclaim, winning the Special Jury Prize at the 80th Venice International Film Festival.
The story unfolds within the perilous and swamp-laden forests that define the so-called “green border,” where refugees from the Middle East and Africa find themselves caught in a geopolitical quagmire. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has carefully constructed this crisis, using propaganda to lure vulnerable individuals to the border with false promises of easy access to the European Union. Instead of finding refuge, these hopeful migrants become trapped, pawns in a hidden conflict designed to provoke Europe.
Amid this bleak reality, Green Border focuses on the lives of three central characters whose stories collide: Julia (played by Maja Ostaszewska), a compassionate activist who has sacrificed her comfortable life to aid those in need; Jan (Tomasz Włosok), a young border guard grappling with his own sense of duty; and a Syrian family whose journey to safety becomes fraught with unimaginable challenges. Through these intertwined lives, Holland masterfully explores the complex moral choices ordinary people face in extraordinary circumstances.
Green Border marks 30 years since Holland’s seminal film Europa Europa, and it sees her once again addressing critical social issues with poignancy and precision. The film shines a spotlight on the humanity at the heart of a crisis, encouraging viewers to confront the ethical dilemmas we face as a global community.
Prepare to be moved and challenged as the Green Border opens across Australia on 28 November 2024. Elizabeth from Nixco provided this media release.
