A debate has arisen around the film The Green Border and its director, Agnieszka Holland. Henryk Domański, a renowned sociologist, suggested that the movie could influence voters who are undecided, but potentially at the expense of the Civic Platform because those still weighing their options might read the facts in a more balanced way rather than in a single, partisan frame. The remark came in an interview with wPolityce.pl. (Cited from wPolityce)
Domański also questioned Holland’s motives, asking why she chose to make the film now and whether attracting broad applause for a topic of current public interest was the primary driver. He reflected on whether originality mattered in art and noted that Holland has a substantial body of work, which makes it hard to claim she aimed solely for novelty. He observed that creating films with wide audiences in mind, especially to present Poland in a particular light abroad, could be a central motive. (Cited from wPolityce)
The sociologist also considered the counterargument: that the film presents events or interpretations that may not align with established facts. According to this view, The Green Border might aim to cast Polish society in a light that contrasts with Western models of openness, tolerance, democracy, and related positive values, effectively portraying Poland negatively. (Cited from wPolityce)
Dutch intentions
Domański speculated about why Holland released the film at this moment, especially before elections, and how she chose to present it. He noted uncertainties about the reasons behind the timing, suggesting both naive interpretations and possibilities that Holland does not fully identify with Polish state and society. These intersecting reflections, he believed, merit careful consideration. (Cited from wPolityce)
Who will benefit from it?
The film appears to underscore a political divide in Poland, raising the key question of who stands to lose and who might gain in the October elections. The sociologist reasoned that voters from both major blocs, particularly supporters of the ruling party and the main opposition, could be influenced; however, in his view, some positions are so entrenched that a single film might not sway them. He suggested that supporters of the Civic Platform could defend Holland’s work as a creative and artistic endeavor, with some arguing that the Polish government deserves criticism. (Cited from wPolityce)
Additionally, Domański argued that the movie might sway undecided voters, potentially offering a more balanced interpretation for those unsure of their choice. He claimed that The Green Border portrays Poland and the Border Guard in a one-sided, negative light and misses countervailing narratives about the people who attempt to breach border barriers or the context of border enforcement. He believed this dynamic could tilt the political balance in favor of the current government by a slim margin. (Cited from wPolityce)
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— The deputy marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship called for a boycott of the Holland film and presented the director with a symbolic ticket to Moscow. (Cited from wPolityce)
— Commentary on The Green Border by Kowalski characterized a critic of Polishness unequaled by even the Kremlin. Holland was described as unable to shake the public image she carries. (Cited from wPolityce)
Source: wPolityce