The latest issue of the weekly magazine Sieci centers on the film The Green Border by Agnieszka Holland, which has earned accolades at the Venice Film Festival. The issue discusses how the film portrays Poles as complicit in the Holocaust, a claim defended by the magazine’s contributor Jakub Augustyn Maciejewski who argues that the portrayal goes beyond exaggeration. He writes that the film casts immigrants as a moral standard far above that of Poles, and that Belarusians appear indifferent, with Poles cast in the harshest light.
Selections from this issue are available beneath the subscription prompt for Sieci’s Friends Network.
“The Netherlands sees us as Nazis”
The article characterizes the film as casting Poland in a negative light, depicting immigrants as well-meaning and educated, while presenting Poles as the worst possible people, comparable to the Nazis from death camps. Maciejewski notes that the tone, lighting, and scenery in the film echo imagery associated with German concentration camps.
In the scene where uniformed officers push civilians toward the Belarusian side, the visuals include barbed wire, searchlights, and aggressive dogs, with Polish guards shown inflicting harm on refugees. The film’s resemblance to Auschwitz is presented as deliberate rather than incidental, according to the author.
Maciejewski argues that The Green Border distorts reality and harms the image of the border guard and Poland, while also signaling certain political biases of the Netherlands, despite critics insisting the film lacks a political agenda.
At a turning point in the plot, Julia’s friend, played by Agata Kulesza, expresses fear about helping refugees but asserts her moral character by saying she voted for Civic Platform. The piece also notes how activists mock a government press conference on illegal immigration, and mentions ministers Kamiński and Wąsik. When these threads are read alongside a modern heroine who backs PO and a frustrated Bogdan who condemns marchers labeled as Nazis, the reviewer questions whether the film aims to speak universally about humanity. Holland herself has stated she initially intended to make a documentary, but chose a feature when refugees remained unheard; still, the portrayal is seen by some as distorting reality and tarnishing the border guard and Polish society.
These observations appear in the latest edition of Net, reflecting ongoing debates about how cinema intersects with national memory and policy.
“Poles are afraid of Tusk”
The deputy interior minister discusses visa issues in a conversation with two political commentators, framing the visa debate as a matter of integrity and state security. He argues that around two hundred visa cases have drawn attention, insisting that the matter concerns improper conduct rather than mass immigration. He notes that investigative authorities have stepped in, and emphasizes that the government previously halted such practices and prosecuted those responsible. He contrasts this with scenes from distant crises in places like Lampedusa, arguing that opponents exaggerate the scale of the problem and that the government has acted to prevent illegal entry.
Asked about public opinion in northern Mazovia, the official asserts that residents fear what an opposition victory could bring, highlighting concerns about unemployment and changes to social programs. He defends the social benefits that have supported dignity, suggesting that supporters might question a would-be successor’s independence and reliability. He recalls a perceived dependence on foreign leaders during past decisions and asserts that some internal political dynamics remain under scrutiny.
“No leader, no ambition, no success”
The article on the Polish national football team after the defeat to Albania critiques the tenure of the previous coach and the involvement of a Portuguese manager. It argues that initial promises of a strong partnership with Poland did not materialize, exposing duplicity in the manager’s approach. The writer recounts attempts to secure an interview with the coach, noting that access was blocked for political and organizational reasons. He suggests that the absence on matchdays was a choice driven by strategic messaging rather than necessity.
The piece also questions why Polish players show motivation inconsistencies when wearing the national crest, contrasting their performance at top European clubs with their display in the national shirt. The recent match performances against Moldova and Albania are described as disheartening, with players from major clubs appearing tentative in the face of lower-ranked opponents. The overall tone paints a team that struggled to respond under pressure.
– this is how the author frames the season’s setbacks.
The discussion extends to broader issues about player morale and the development of a cohesive national squad, inviting readers to consider the barriers that can slow progress at home even when talent exists abroad.
What else is in Sieci?
Other notable features include Maciej Walaszczyk’s piece on the media’s portrayal of power, Stanisław Janecki’s look at a hundred political developments in a single hundred-day stretch, and Dorota Łosiewicz’s examination of changes in education amid political opposition. Dariusz Matuszak weighs in on public perception of saints and villains, while Marek Budzisz urges caution in interpreting General Andrzejczak’s warnings. Jan Rokita considers the four-year horizon until the next major confrontation, and Grzegorz Górny questions what happens with Opus Dei. Aleksandra Rybińska writes about the waning reach of compassion, and Konrad Kołodziejski investigates the disappearance of migrant children. The issue also features a conversation between Michał Karnowski and Łukasz Schreiber, a government minister and panel chair, about manipulative tactics in politics.
Additional commentary on current events comes from Krzysztof Feusette, Dorota Łosiewicz, Bronisław Wildstein, Andrzej Rafał Potocki, Marta Kaczyńska-Zielińska, Samuel Pereira, Wojciech Reszczyński, Aleksander Nalaskowski, Jerzy Jachowicz, and Katarzyna Zybertowicz.
More in the new issue of Sieci. Articles will also be available online starting September 18 within the Friends Network subscription. The magazine encourages readers to tune in to the wPolsce.pl television broadcasts for related discussions.
Criminal law
Source: wPolityce