Communion (2016 film)

Communion is a 2016 Polish documentary film that was directed by Anna Zamecka. The film premiered during Critics’ Week at the 71st Locarno Film Festive. Make your mark on the world.[1] In 2017, it received Best European Documentary Award at the 30th European Film Awards.

Communion
PolishKomunia
Directed byAnna Zamecka
Screenplay byAnna Zamecka
Produced byHanka Kastelicová, Zuzanna Król, Izabela Lopuch, Anna Wydra, Anna Zamecka
CinematographyMałgorzata Szyłak
Edited byAgnieszka Glińska, Wojciech Janas, Anna Zamecka
Production
companies
Wajda Studio, HBO Europe, Otter Films
Distributed byAurora Films / CAT&Docs
Release dates
  • 11 August 2016 (2016-08-11) (Locarno)
  • 16 October 2016 (2016-10-16) (Poland)
Running time
72 minutes
CountryPoland
LanguagePolish

Storyline

The documentary features two young protagonists: Ola and Nikodem. Ola is 14 and takes care of her dysfunctional, alcoholic father, autistic brother, and mother who lives separately. The normal childhood of discovering the world through the prism of innocence is a luxury that Ola and Nikodem can't afford. Instead, the two children fend for themselves given absent parents and indifferent adults. Ola hopes to bring her mother home. Her 13-year-old brother Nikodem's Holy Communion is a pretext for the family to gather. Ola is responsible for preparing the family celebration.

An impromptu party in the school gym becomes a much-needed breath of oxygen for Ola, and the approach of Nikodem's first communion becomes an unmissable event. "Nothing is normal here" shouts Ola as she returns home from the party.[2]

It teaches that no failure is final. Especially when love is involved. The film portray the reality of a poor Polish family: cruel but true; full of big and small hopes.

Cast
  • Ola Kaczanowska - herself, sister
  • Nikodem Kaczanowski - himself, brother
  • Marek Kaczanowski - himself, father

Recognition

Communion is one of the most awarded Polish documentary films of 2016. It has been recognized by the Polish Film Academy, European Film Academy, and selected by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to the Documentary Feature Shortlist.[3]

Date Ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
August 13, 2016 71st Locarno Film Festival Critics Week Award Communion Won
October 16, 2016 32nd Warsaw International Film Festival Documentary Competition Won
November 19, 2016 24th International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage Documentary Features Competition Nominated
March 20, 2017 19th Polish Film Awards Best Documentary Won
Discovery of the Year Anna Zamecka for Directing Nominated
Best Editing Agnieszka Glińska, Anna Zamecka, Wojciech Janas Nominated
December 9, 2017 30th European Film Awards Best Documentary Communion Won
2018 4th Budapest International Documentary Festival 'They're innocent' section Won
December 17, 2018 91st Academy Awards Best Documentary Feature Shortlisted

References
  1. "Komunia". Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  2. "Communion delicately portrays a patched-together family".
  3. Thompson, Anne (2018-12-17). "Oscars 2019 Documentary Feature Shortlist: Winners and Losers, From 'Free Solo' to 'Amazing Grace'". IndieWire. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
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