Film Review - Green Border
Images courtesy of Sharmill Films.
We’ve all watched the plight of refugees from war torn countries through our screens. Families escaping war by any means necessary with nothing more than the clothes on their back and a hope for a better life. But how many of us have had a closer look into the lives of those people? Agnieszka Holland’s film Green Border (2023) is a harrowing but captivating story of the journey of a family of Syrian refugees, as they travel towards the European Union. The film begins with the Syrian family and another Afghan refugee in the Belarus airport. Their naivety and optimism about reaching the European Union is turned upside down when the audience is introduced to the ruthless Belarusian forces. Bouncing between the Polish and Belarusian border, we witness the physical and mental deterioration of the refugees and the cruelty of outsiders.
Holland’s decision to use black and white throughout the film adds a sombre tone that draws the audience into the lives of these desperate refugees being used as political pawns between Poland and Belarus. This use of monochrome can be likened to Spielberg’s Schindler’s List; an homage to a painful chapter in time that should never be repeated.
There were several moments when the refugees along with the families were given false hope that their conditions would improve. However, time again this would be proven wrong when refugees were dehumanised in some of the worst ways; glass being put into their drinking water, being tricked into believing that they are being given asylum, and the constant beatings of the refugees as they are pushed from one country to another.
The film becomes increasingly engaging as it broadens its scope to include multiple perspectives, each offering a different angle on the conflict. We are introduced to Janek, a Polish border officer torn between duty and conscience, as well as a group of activists determined to assist the refugees, yet constrained by oppressive laws. The narrative also highlights Julia, a widowed therapist whose sense of moral duty grows stronger as she becomes more deeply involved in the escalating crisis. Each of these characters provides a unique viewpoint on the complex, morally ambiguous situation at the border.
The cast members deliver an amazing performance combined with the cinematography, by Krzysztof Ptak, that is as stark and unforgiving as the subject matter. The point of view shots, providing a view of the Polish forests from the perspective of the refugees, reflect the uncertainty of the journey at hand, while the frequent close-ups of the refugees' faces convey their desperation. The film’s slow pacing serves to highlight the drawn-out suffering of the refugees' journey. Some viewers may find the pacing challenging due to its documentary-like approach, with long stretches of silence and lingering shots.
Green Border humanises those caught in the geopolitical conflict between the West and Russia. The film will undoubtedly give the world a painful reminder that the suffering that is captured through the mainstream media cannot begin to fully show the depths and complexities of the true experiences of refugees.
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Green Border is screening in cinemas from Thursday the 28th of November. For tickets and more info, click here.