53 Wars

While Anka (Magdalena Popławska) and Witek (Michał Żurawski) have been together for many years, there's no lack of tenderness in their relationship. Even so, Anka basically lives alone, as she is always waiting for her husband to come back from the front lines. Tired of the constant absence of a man who is slavishly devoted to his work, who mentions the fact that he's about to leave yet again along with an innocent request for a cup of tea, she starts to rebel against her thankless role as a modern-day Penelope. This "Don't go" can be heard over and over again in 53 Wars. Based on Grażyna Jagielska's autobiographical Miłość z kamienia. Życie z korespondentem wojennym (Love from a Stone: Life With a War Correspondent), Ewa Bukowska talks about longing that, rather than strengthening feelings, gradually destroys them. "If you start your next war now, I'll never finish these renovations," the main character says sharply, cutting short another revelation about a bloody conflict, while the director focuses not on those who leave, but on those who stay behind, because sometimes they are the ones who pay the highest price.