“Green Border”, Interview with director Agnieszka Holland

September 6, 2023

Agnieszka Holland, director of "Green border", talks to FRED about the political goals of her film.

"Green Border", Interview with director Agnieszka Holland David Martos

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Interview during the 80th edition of Venice International Film Festival with Agnieszka Holland, director of the film in competition “Green Border”. It depicts the difficult and painful situation lived by Syrian and Afghan refugees at the Polish-Bielorrusian border while trying to reach European Union soil.

The director explains to FRED her reasons to make this film and the political commitment behind it, since she wants to make her point against the Polish Government encouraging the abuse and violence inflicted on these refugees. Holland remembers that this is her first entry in Venice competition in decades (last and first was ‘Olivier Olivier’ in 1992).

“Green Border” explains the humanitarian crisis of the Syrian and Afghan refugees from four different perspectives: the own refugees, the guards in the Border Patrol, the volunteers that try to help the victims and the civilian population, divided by the actions taken by the Government.

Plot

In the treacherous and swampy forests that make up the so called “green border” between Belarus and Poland, refugees from the Middle East and Africa trying to reach the European Union are trapped in a geopolitical crisis cynically engineered by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. In an attempt to provoke Europe, refugees are lured to the border by propaganda promising easy passage to the EU. Pawns in this hidden war, the lives of Julia, a newly minted activist who has given up her comfortable life, Jan, a young border guard, and a Syrian family intertwine. 30 years after Europa Europa, three-time Oscar Nominee Agnieszka Holland’s poignant new feature Zielona Granica opens our eyes, speaks to the heart, and challenges us to reflect on the moral choices that fall to ordinary people every day.

Written by: David Martos

Guest

Agnieszka Holland