Cinema should reflect human reality in all its contradictions: Agnieszka Holland

Polish director Agnieszka Holland recently visited Mexico to participate in the fourth Polish Film Week, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, which, as a tribute, screened eight of her films created between 1978 and 2023.

The filmmaker gave an exclusive interview to El Economista, in which she delved into three key themes of her work and thought: the migration crisis on the border between Poland and Belarus and its parallels with migration in Latin America, her upcoming project on Franz Kafka, and her role as a jury member at the Venice Film Festival.

"Governments create fear among the population to manipulate perceptions about migrants. The situation in Europe, especially on the Polish-Belarusian border, has many similarities with the migration crisis in Mexico and the United States," he explained.

The filmmaker highlighted how policies of exclusion and violence have spread globally and how access to information allows for a better comparison and understanding of these migration crises, which, in her opinion, are impossible to stop entirely.

Green border: the migration drama

As a reflection of this commitment, his latest film, Green Border (2023), which won an award at the Venice Film Festival, offers a raw and poignant look at the issue. Following meticulous research with activists, volunteers, and migrants, Holland constructs a compelling documentary about the harrowing journey of those fleeing the Middle East and Africa with their hopes pinned on the European Union.

On the border between Poland and Belarus, the fates of Julia, a committed activist; Jan, a border guard; and a Syrian family become intertwined, forced to confront the institutional cruelty of two governments that ignore the serious migration crisis that has plagued Poland since 2021.

Regarding his current work, Holland also discussed his new film based on the life and work of Franz Kafka.

“He was a young man full of genius and pain, who from his adolescence addressed human complexity in a world marked by violence and alienation. His story is very human and remains relevant today, especially for new generations experiencing profound changes due to technology and current conflicts,” he noted.

Cinema reveals universal dilemmas

Referring to his role as a jury member at the Venice Film Festival, Holland shared his perspective on evaluating films with social and political content:

"I seek to find in each film an inner, complex, and multidimensional truth. Cinematographic art should reflect human reality in all its contradictions, and strike a balance between artistic quality and the message it conveys."

By exploring themes such as migration, violence, and the search for identity, films and stories from around the world invite us to reflect on our shared condition.

Agnieszka Holland reaffirms how art and film are powerful tools for highlighting current social and political issues, but also for finding humanity in diversity. Her work, which addresses everything from the migration crisis to the complexity of figures like Kafka, shows us that, despite cultural and historical differences, we share similar fears, hopes, and struggles.

This strengthens empathy and encourages us to think about global solutions, reminding us that human dignity and the desire for justice are universal causes that must be addressed no matter where in the world we live.