Registration REQUIRED by 4pm on April 14, 2026 in order to attend this event.
Please join the East Central European Center and the Harriman Institute for a screening of “Home Sweet Home” (2025), with an introductory lecture by Paulina Duda. The post-screening discussion will be moderated by Chrisopher Caes and Cindy Sang. The event is part of the East Central European Center’s Spring 2026 film screening and lecture series: After 2020: New Directions in Polish Cinema. This series explores how Polish artists, filmmakers, and cultural initiatives have responded to sociopolitical issues in Poland and beyond.
Despite its unflinching portrayal of domestic violence, Wojtek Smarzowski’s latest film, "Home Sweet Home," became an immediate box office hit in Poland. Consistent with his earlier oeuvre, Smarzowski foregrounds deeply entrenched yet often obscured social issues through an unorthodox style – here, his use of montage – that viscerally confronts audiences. This talk asks at what point socially engaged cinema risks shifting from art to advocacy, and considers why Smarzowski’s remarkable domestic box office success – even in the era of streaming platforms – contrasts so sharply with his limited international recognition.
Please email [email protected] to request disability accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
