Green Border

Original Title: Zielona Granica 

Duration: 147 minutes 

Country: Poland Language: Polish, Arabic, French, English with English Subtitles 

Director: Agnieszka Holland 

Deep within a vast expanse of cramped, swampy forest lies the border between Poland and Belarus–in other words, the border between the still-developing world and the European Union which many outside have come to see as a promised land. Green Border tells an all-too-familiar story of many Middle Eastern and African refugees trapped on both sides of the fence, having been falsely promised an easy passage across. The lives of Julia, Jan, a border guard, and a close-knit Syrian family all come to intertwine in this riveting conundrum of human rights. And despite avoiding any heavy-handedness, Green Border is painfully relevant in America today–especially in 2024, an election year in which immigration will assuredly become a hot-button political issue. 

Quote:

“A gripping account of the inhumanity and depravity that ensues when those fleeing persecution are made political pawns.” Jessica Kiang (Variety, 2023) 

Awards: 

+ Chicago International Film Festival: Audience Choice Award 

+ Palm Springs International Film Festival: Bridging the Borders Award 

+ Association of Polish Filmmakers Critics Awards: Golden Reel Award 

+ Venice Film Festival: Arca Cinema Giovani Award 

Post-Screening Events:

+ Audience Q & A Panel Discussion with JFCS Pittsburgh