Special Screening of “Dom dobry” in Toruń, followed by a discussion on domestic violence
“Dom dobry” is the most-watched Polish film in cinemas this year. Support organizations have noted a direct impact of Wojciech Smarzowski’s film: more and more women are reporting violence and seeking help.
A special screening of Smarzowski’s latest film will take place on Tuesday, December 16, at 5:30 PM at the Niebieski Kocyk Cinema in Toruń, located at 37a Gagarina Street. “Dom dobry” is a harrowing story about domestic violence, so a panel discussion with experts from various fields who support people experiencing violence will follow the screening. Participants include: Anna Kulczyńska from the Toruń Women’s Council, Katarzyna Łęgowska from the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Blue Line, legal advisor and Blue Line consultant Agnieszka Bocian, psychotherapists Marcin Woźniak and Krystian Labuda, and Piotr Wiśniewski, a local police officer from Chełmża. The event is organized by the Synergia Development Foundation in cooperation with the Marshal’s Office of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region and the Toruń City Hall. Unfortunately, free tickets for this event are no longer available.
Experts on Violence: “Dom dobry” Is Doing a Lot of Good
Smarzowski’s latest work is the most-watched Polish film of the year. Since its premiere on November 7, over 2.2 million people have seen it in cinemas. This makes “Dom dobry” the director’s second most popular film, after “Clergy” (Kler) from 2018, which had nearly six million viewers.
The film has been helping victims of violence overcome fear and gain courage. Support organizations such as the Blue Line and Feminoteka report that more women are reaching out for help after seeing the movie.
According to Feminoteka, the number of calls to the foundation’s anti-violence hotline increased by 223% in November. “Callers often mentioned that they learned about us thanks to the film’s promotion or seeing our hotline number on cinema screens,” Feminoteka reports.
The most frequently reported issues were psychological abuse by partners and sexual violence. The age range of women seeking support spans from 17 to 80 years old.
“Smarzowski’s film, for the first time since 1997 and the high-profile campaign ‘Because the Soup Was Too Salty,’ has made all of Poland talk about violence against women again. As the film’s content partners, we clearly see the urgent need for nationwide campaigns on this issue and the enormous gap left by nearly three decades of silence,” Feminoteka emphasizes.
“Does ‘Dom dobry’ break the taboo? From what I read in the media and hear at audience meetings, I have no doubt that it does. The film addresses issues of abuse that were previously spoken of in whispers or not at all,” says Wojciech Gostomczyk, producer of “Dom dobry.” “Our film enters a space full of fear, shame, and silence – and shatters that silence with symbolic force. Over two months after its premiere, I dare say that ‘Dom dobry’ breaks the taboo of domestic violence like the Berlin Wall in 1989: decisively, boldly, and irreversibly.”
The Film Is Supported by the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Regional Self-Government
“Dom dobry” had its world premiere this September at the 50th Gdynia Film Festival, where it competed in the main competition. Its title references Smarzowski’s 2009 hit “Dom zły” (The Dark House).
The protagonist, Gośka (Agata Turkot), meets Grzesiek (Tomasz Schuchardt) online and believes he is “the one.” He showers her with flowers and eventually proposes in Venice. However, cracks quickly appear in their relationship, revealing Grzesiek’s violent nature. “Smarzowski looks into ‘good homes’ where things happen that most people prefer to ignore,” reads the press description. “Dom dobry is a film about the limits of love, one that cannot be forgotten.”
The cast also includes Agata Kulesza, Maria Sobocińska, Andrzej Konopka, and Arkadiusz Jakubik.
The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Regional Self-Government is a partner of the film – “Dom dobry” was co-financed from the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund. Regional entities and individuals were involved in its production. The Bydgoszcz-based company Lucky Bob produced the film. Producers are Wojciech Gostomczyk and Janusz Hetman, executive producers and co-producers are Joanna Drzewiecka, Andrzej Drzewiecki, and Adam Gudell, and co-producer Waldemar Kotecki also participated.
Department of Promotion
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