Elephant 2022

Elephant 2022

Elephant 2022
Slon (original title)
1h 34m | Drama, Romance | Release date: November 18, 2022 (Poland)

Storyline:

Bartek runs a small horse farm in the mountains in Southern Poland. He has to become head of the family when his father leaves and his mother has a breakdown. One day their neighbour dies and his son Dawid comes to the village for the funeral. Bartek becomes fascinated by Dawid and his recklessness. First love will force him to decide if he’s ready to choose his freedom over family obligations.

User review:

As a cry against préjudice and hatred, this film did its job wonderfully. Poland has a bad reputation for human rights and in the rural conservative areas, non-conformity is excised, derided or punished. Dawid and Bartek try to make a go of their relationship in situ but Dawid had been driven out once and is loathe to remain. Bartek has plans that don’t incorporate leaving and the film builds on this tension until its conclusion. The area the film is set in is beautiful. It would make an idyllic retreat for anyone were it not for the closed minds of nearly all of the inhabitants. In the end, a decision is made. To me, it’s ambiguous in a way. Who won? Bigotry or freedom?

Director: Kamil Krawczycki
Writer: Kamil Krawczycki
Stars: Jan Hrynkiewicz, Pawel Tomaszewski, Ewa Skibinska
Country of origin: Poland
Language: Polish
Also known as: Elephant
Filming locations: Pieniny Mountains, Malopolskie, Poland