Joanna

Running time: 105 minutes

In the times of turmoil and insecurity of war, there are some questions that everyone is suddenly confronted by sooner or later: How much love of the other human beings does one have within oneself? How much one is willing to sacrifice? Is there a price one wouldn’t pay to protect the loved ones? Is one really as good as one sees oneself?

Everyday life in the German occupied Warsaw in the midst of the WW2 runs between efforts to find a job and therefore – something to eat, and the efforts to avoid “seizures” carried on regularly by the German horrifying special forces – Gestapo on the streets. One of the days takes away a Jewish woman, whose 8-year-old daughter accidentally manages to avoid the seizure, but now – left completely alone – hides in the nearby church, hungry and frozen almost to death. It is Joanna, an ordinary middle-class woman waiting for her husband to return home for over four years now, who sees the girl. She feels a natural, strong urge to help, but doesn’t know anyone of the underground opposition circles, who would be able to secure the safe home for the Jewish child. The gravest danger hangs over everyone involved as there is the death penalty for hiding a Jewish person.

It is then when Joanna has to decide for herself whether to engage or whether to stay safe. With this choice the whole reality changes and lays bare before her eyes, leading to places she would never have expected she will experienced.

‘Joanna’ will be shown as a part of the Play Poland , the biggest UK based annual Polish films festival. Play Poland is organised by Polish Art Europe with cooperation of Merseyside Polonia in Liverpool.For more information go on: http://playpoland.org.uk/ or email us on:films@merseysidepolonia.com

The film will be shown with English subtitles.

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