Mug / Twarz
Poland 2018
Directed by Małgorzata Szumowska, drama, 91 min, eng subtitles, 16+
Written by Małgorzata Szumowska, Michał Englert
With Mateusz Kościukiewicz, Agnieszka Podsiadlik, Małgorzata Gorol, Roman Gancarczyk
Awarded with the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, Mug is the latest film by the acclaimed Polish filmmaker Małgorzata Szumowska (Body – CinEast 2015, In the Name of – CinEast 2013, Elles – CinEast 2012, 33 Scenes from Life – CinEast 2009). With her new opus, Szumowska revisits the rural peripheral areas often referred to as “Poland B” in the poorer and less developed parts of the country.
Szumowska places Jacek (Mateusz Kościukiewicz) who loves heavy metal, his girlfriend and his dog at the centre of the story. Jacek's family and fellow parishioners all see him as an amusing freak. While working at the construction site of what's supposed to become the tallest statue of Jesus in the world, a serious accident disfigures him completely. All eyes turn on him as Jacek undergoes the first facial transplant in the country.
A moving tragicomedy on identity and everyone's fear of the unknown, characterised by strong, energetic storytelling, Mug offers us a peculiar mix of satire and realism while exposing contemporary Polish society, not just metaphorically. Inspired by true events.
Awards
Berlin IFF 2018 (Silver Bear - Grand Jury Prize)