Although People is set against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, its tense and astonishingly visceral portrayal of the horrors of war could, with a change of language and little else, apply to the experiences of those in Gaza, Syria, Sudan, and elsewhere. With more countries involved in conflict than at any time since World War II, desensitisation can become common until a film such as this, in the tradition of work such as Elem Klimov’s Come And See (1989), shakes audiences out of their complacency. The film follows different women, from a blind Ukrainian girl to a Russian mother discovering the reality behind the propaganda, as they try to survive. Featuring some remarkable performances (special mention to Maria Shtofa as a sister trying to protect her baby sibling) and indelible, scarring imagery, this is extremely tough but essential viewing.

The screening will be introduced by actor Afina Ostapenko.

Notes by Kevin Coyne.

Screening as part of IFI Kinopolis Polish Film Festival.