Poland’s Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, along with politicians from the ruling parties, has unleashed a barrage of criticism against acclaimed director Agnieszka Holland’s latest film, “Green Borders.” The film, which sheds light on the refugee crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border, premiered in the main competition at the Venice International Film Festival. The criticism has reached such levels that Ziobro has likened the film to Nazi propaganda, a statement that has sparked significant debate and support from various quarters.

“Green Borders” delves into the humanitarian crisis faced by refugees stranded at the border between Belarus and EU member states Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, two years ago. It portrays the harrowing reality of refugees trapped in a challenging environment, emphasizing the human element within the crisis.

However, the film has ignited fierce backlash from prominent politicians. Ziobro, who chairs the far-right ruling party Sovereign Poland, went so far as to draw a parallel between the film and Nazi propaganda. His inflammatory statement has elicited sharp criticism from within Poland and beyond.

Culture Minister Piotr Gliński clarified that the film was not financed by the ministry or the Polish Film Institute and would not be premiered in Poland. Other members of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, including Krystyna Pawlowicz, a Constitutional Court judge, have joined the criticism against Holland, accusing her of creating a “stupid, false, irresponsible, disgusting pamphlet” meant to provoke Poles.

Agnieszka Holland, a prominent director known for her outspoken views, has consistently criticized the Polish government’s refugee and migrant policies. Her film “Green Borders” reflects her perspective on this issue, shedding light on the struggles faced by refugees and migrants.

Notably, Maja Ostaszewska, a renowned Polish actress who stars in the film, has condemned the comments made by politicians from the ruling parties, labeling them as an “insulting, manipulative attack” on freedom of speech and artistic expression. She has called for solidarity among fellow filmmakers in Poland to counter such attacks.

Magdalena Środová, a prominent Polish philosopher critical of PiS and its allies, views Ziobro’s strong reaction to the film as indicative of the government’s authoritarianism and its resistance to acknowledging the truth about the border crisis. She contends that the government’s hostility toward truth-tellers reflects its fear of the reality associated with the policies it has pursued.

The film’s release coincides with the backdrop of the 2021 refugee crisis when Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko invited refugees from the Middle East and Africa into Belarus, directing them toward the EU border, leading to tensions and humanitarian challenges at the Polish-Belarusian border. Poland accused Lukashenko of using refugees as a tool to destabilize the region, further exacerbating the ongoing crisis. “Green Borders” aims to capture the human drama and challenges within this complex context, sparking both debate and controversy on an international stage.

Article by Prague Forum