Clarinet

Located in the north-east edge of Poland, right by the edge of a lake, there stands a house of women, where mothers, daughters, and sisters live. The inaccessibility, resilience, and family secrets they share are passed on from generation to generation. Łucja, 20, can only hope to start a life on her own, when she confronts the truth about her family. A chance encounter with an enigmatic doctor is the beginning of a chain of events, with an old clarinet being a guide leading to an old story that can no longer be found on the pages of a family album. All the curtains hiding the truth must be removed and the transgressions forgiven, before Łucja can start to hear the tune of her own life. The film was shot amid the wild glacial landscapes of the Suwałki Gap. The music was composed by Orkiestra Klezmerska Teatru Sejneńskiego (The Sejny Theatre Klezmer Orchestra) and became the bridge that connects the past with the present. This début film directed by Tola Jasionowska is a tender story about looking for one’s identity, roots, and destiny, throwing a bit of magical realism and a profoundly local feel to the mix.