In 2021, the border zone between Poland and Belarus was declared a restricted area, and became a brutal political trap for any refugee. Being pushed back from one side of the border to the other, they find themselves in a dramatic dead-end zone, surrounded by harsh and dangerous landscape. Maciek and his family live on the Polish side of the border. One day, he decides to offer his home as a shelter for Alhyder, a 27-year-old refugee from Syria, whom he finds in a very poor condition. With the man slowly recovering, a question now hangs in the air: what now? How can one help others without putting them in harm’s way? ‘The Guest’ is a touching and subtle documentary film, in which tension, fear, and empathy are watched from up close, but without creating unnecessary suspense. Instead, the camera catches silent gestures and emotions of the protagonists to portray the drama of the situation they experience, but also the power of human unity and solidarity.
Co-production: Al Jazeera Documentary, Wytwórnia Filmów Fabularnych we Wrocławiu
Production: Plesnar & Krauss FILMS
Zvika Gregory Portnoy, Zuzanna Solakiewicz
A film directing duo who have worked together for over 10 years. In 2014, their documentary film ‘15 stron świata / 15 Corners of the World’ won the Critics Week Grand Prize at the Locarno IFF, and was screened at numerous international film festivals. Zuzanna Solakiewicz studied the humanities in Poland, and spent a number of years in Israel where she deepened her passion for culture and spirituality. Zvika Gregory Portnoy studied photography and video art at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. Their film work is based on meticulous observation of human relations and tries to find a universally common language. They find inspiration in everyday life, culture and art.
Selected awards
The Eagles Polish Film Awards – Best Documentary (nomination)
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) – Best Cinematography
Millennium Docs Against Gravity – The Polish Competition
