Courtesy of Agata Kubis, Metro Films, Astute Films, Venice Film Festival
The political backlash surrounding Agnieszka Holland’s Venice Special Jury Prize-winning refugee drama “Green Border” hasn’t kept the movie from being a hot seller.
The film explores the injustice and terror perpetrated at the Polish-Belarusian border from the perspective of refugees, Polish activists and border guards. But despite being applauded by international critics at Venice, the film has been violently attacked by far-right figures in Poland, notably the Justice Minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, who compared it to Nazi propaganda. Holland is now threatening legal action against Ziobro and demanded on Sept. 7 a public apology from him within seven days.
On the heels of its world premiered on the Lido, “Green Border” has been sold by Films Boutique to Japan (Transformer Inc.), Germany (Piffl Medien), Israel (Lev Cinema), Switzerland (Trigon), MENA (Moving Turtle), Greece (Danaos Films) and Ukraine (Arthouse Traffic). Deals are now closing for Latin America, China and Scandinavia.
Previous sales were closed with Vercine in Spain, Panda Lichtspiele in Austria, Kino Pavasaris for the Baltics, Art Fest in Bulgaria, Magic Box in Slovakia, Fivia in Slovenia, Vertigo in Hungary, Bio Paradis in Iceland, Condor in France, September Films in Benelux, Movies Inspired in Italy, Leopardo Filmes in Portugal, MCF Megacom in former Yugoslavia, Kino Swiat in Poland and AQS in Czech Republic/Slovakia.
Amid the turmoil, Holland has received “messages of solidarity from all over the world,” said the European Film Academy’s Mike Downey. “In such dangerous and difficult times, they are much appreciated.” Downey described Holland as “an extraordinarily brave and courageous artist, whose fearlessness in the face of injustice and such vile and personal attacks from the uninformed members of the regime has been an example of great personal engagement and commitment.”
