About the movie: "Woman of..." (2023), directed by the acclaimed Polish filmmaking duo Michal Englert and Malgorzata Szumowska, is a poignant drama spanning several decades. The film follows the life of Aniela from 1980 to 2022, chronicling her journey as a trans woman living in Poland. Despite the challenges she faces, Aniela navigates her life with resilience.
Plot summary: The film's plot unfolds over a significant period, from 1980 to 2022, focusing on Aniela's life in Poland. It delves into her experiences and the societal attitudes towards transgender individuals during this time. The narrative highlights Aniela's journey of self-discovery and the challenges she faces as she navigates her identity.
Directors' Vision: Michal Englert and Malgorzata Szumowska have expressed that their approach to "Woman of..." involved telling a story about identity and the passage of time. Their vision captures the personal journey of Aniela against the backdrop of changing societal norms.
Themes:
Transgender Identity and Experience: The film centers on the lived experience of a trans woman in Poland over several decades.
Societal Attitudes Towards LGBTQ+ Issues: Spanning from 1980 to 2022, the film likely reflects the evolving societal perceptions and acceptance of transgender individuals in Poland.
Resilience and Self-Discovery: Aniela's story portrays her personal growth and resilience in the face of societal prejudice and personal challenges.
The Passage of Time: The film's extensive timeline emphasizes how personal journeys unfold and are shaped by historical and social contexts.
Key success factors:
Timely and Relevant Social Commentary: The film tackles pressing contemporary issues such as transgender identity and societal acceptance within a specific cultural and historical context, which can resonate deeply with audiences and spark important conversations.
Strong Lead Performance: Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik's acclaimed portrayal of Aniela, recognized with a Polish Film Award nomination for Best Actress, is crucial in drawing viewers into the character's emotional journey and making the narrative compelling. Joanna Kulig's nomination for Best Supporting Actress also indicates strong ensemble acting.
Experienced and Acclaimed Directors: Michal Englert and Malgorzata Szumowska are known for their visually striking and thematically rich filmmaking, suggesting a high level of artistic execution and attracting audiences familiar with their previous work.
Recognition at Prestigious Film Festivals: The numerous nominations at highly regarded international film festivals, including Venice, Guadalajara, Göteborg, Munich, and the Polish Film Festival, lend significant credibility and visibility to the film, signaling its quality to potential viewers and distributors.
International Co-production: The collaboration between production companies from Poland and Sweden likely facilitated access to diverse funding sources, talent, and perspectives, enriching the film's overall quality and potential for broader international appeal.
Summary short: "Woman of..." (2023) follows Aniela's life as a trans woman in Poland from 1980 to 2022, showcasing her journey of identity and resilience against a changing social landscape.
Awards and nominations (summary in words): "Woman of..." (2023) has received eleven nominations across various international and national film awards. Notably, it was nominated for the Golden Lion and the Queer Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2023. In 2024, it received nominations at the Guadalajara International Film Festival for the Premio Maguey, at the Göteborg Film Festival for the Dragon Award, at the Munich Film Festival for the ARRI/OSRAM Award, and for the Golden Lions at the Polish Film Festival. For the 2025 Polish Film Awards, the film has garnered five nominations, including Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Actress for Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik, and Best Supporting Actress for Joanna Kulig.
Critics reception: Critical reception for "Woman of..." (2023) has been largely positive, with reviewers commending its sensitive portrayal of a trans woman's life over several decades.
Cineuropa: Described the film as telling the story of Aniela's experience as a trans woman in a hostile small town from 1980 to 2022, highlighting the central theme of her journey.
Screen Daily: Jonathan Romney called it a "sweeping, compassionate story" that effectively balances personal and political elements. He praised Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik's "remarkable" performance for capturing Aniela's dignity and strength.
Variety: Guy Lodge noted the film as a "patient, empathetic portrait" with a "richly internalised performance" from the lead actress, appreciating its thoughtful engagement with Polish history and attitudes towards gender identity.
The Hollywood Reporter: Leslie Felperin found the film to be a "sincere and often moving" work, highlighting the powerful lead performance and the film's ambition in its historical scope and social commentary.
Little White Lies: Ella Kemp described it as a "tender and expansive" portrait of a life lived against societal currents, praising the nuanced approach to Aniela's story and the "understated power" of Hajewska-Krzysztofik's performance, connecting it to Poland's historical context.
Overall, critics have lauded "Woman of..." for its sensitive and powerful storytelling, the exceptional performance of its lead actress, and its insightful exploration of transgender identity within the specific social and political landscape of Poland across several decades.
Reviews about movie online: Online reviews for "Woman of..." (2023) are predominantly positive, emphasizing the film's emotional depth and important subject matter.
Screen Daily's review from the Venice Film Festival praised the film's scope and compassion, highlighting the lead performance as a standout and noting the effective integration of historical context.
Variety's review also from Venice, commended the empathetic portrayal of the protagonist and the thoughtful exploration of the themes, even if the pacing might be considered deliberate by some viewers.
The Hollywood Reporter's coverage from Venice described the film as sincere and moving, underscoring the strength of the central performance and its ambition in tackling a multi-decade narrative with social relevance.
Little White Lies' review from BFI Flare celebrated the film as a tender and expansive portrayal, appreciating its nuanced approach and the powerful yet understated performance of the lead actress within the historical backdrop of Poland.
These reviews collectively suggest that "Woman of..." is a well-received film that offers a compelling and poignant exploration of transgender identity, resilience, and societal change, anchored by a strong central performance.
Box office: IMDb lists the gross worldwide box office for "Woman of..." (2023) as $53,590 (as of March 13, 2025). This indicates a limited release, primarily within the festival circuit and potentially in select theaters.
Production: "Woman of..." (2023) is a co-production between Poland and Sweden. Production companies involved include Plio (Greece), Nomad Films, Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej, Madants, and Nowhere from Poland, and Film i Väst and Common Ground Pictures from Sweden. The film's production involved filming in various locations in Poland, including Wambierzyce, Bystrzyca Kłodzka, and Warsaw. The collaboration between multiple European countries likely brought diverse perspectives and resources to the project. Principal photography concluded by July 25, 2023.
Sales companies: Anonymous Content (USA) represents the film for sales in the United States and Canada across all media. Memento Films International (France) also handled sales for the United States and Canada in 2023.
Distribution companies: Cinemien (Netherlands, cinemien.nl, info@cinemien.nl, Heng Eveldst Raat 29, Utrecht 3572KH, Netherlands) is distributing the film theatrically in the Netherlands (2024) and for all media in Israel. Other distributors include Stork Pictures for theatrical release in the UK (2025), UFO Distribution for theatrical release in France (2024), Arthouse Traffic for all media in Ukraine, Cinobo for all media in Greece, Edition Salzgeber for all media in Germany (2024), Film Europe for all media in Czechia and Slovakia, Filmladen for all media in Australia, I Wonder Pictures for all media in Italy, Karma Films for all media in Spain, Lucky Dogs for all media in Sweden, Next Films for all media in Poland (2024), and Xenix Filmdistribution for all media in Switzerland.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26746630/
About movie: https://cinemien.nl/film/woman-of/
Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/kobieta-z (France), https://www.justwatch.com/es/pelicula/kobieta-z (Spain), https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Malgorzata-Szumowska/dp/B0DY6K7V7W/ (Germany)
Why to recommend this movie: Recommend this film to viewers who appreciate:
Thought-provoking dramas exploring themes of identity and the transgender experience.
Stories that span decades and showcase personal journeys against a backdrop of social change.
Films with strong performances, particularly Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik's nominated lead role.
Works by acclaimed directors known for their insightful and artistic filmmaking.
Independent and international cinema that offers diverse perspectives on important social issues.
Why You Should Watch Movie:
To witness a decades-spanning story of a trans woman's life in Poland and her journey of self-discovery.
If you are interested in exploring themes of identity, resilience, and the evolving societal attitudes towards transgender individuals in Eastern Europe.
To experience the filmmaking of Michal Englert and Malgorzata Szumowska, known for their compelling narratives and visual style.
If you appreciate films that offer a nuanced and humanistic portrayal of transgender experiences.
What Movie Trend film is following:
Name of the trend: LGBTQ+ Focused Period Drama/Biographical Drama
Summary: "Woman of..." aligns with the trend of films that center on LGBTQ+ experiences within a specific historical period, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs faced by individuals in different eras. It also leans into the biographical drama trend by following the life of a specific character over an extended period, allowing for a deep exploration of their personal evolution and the impact of societal changes on their life.
What Big Social Trend is following:
Name of the trend: Increased Global Awareness and Representation of Transgender Experiences
Summary: The film taps into the growing global social trend of increased awareness, visibility, and representation of transgender individuals and their stories in media and culture. By focusing on a trans woman's life over several decades in Poland, the film contributes to a broader understanding of diverse transgender experiences across different cultural and historical contexts.
Final Verdict: "Woman of..." (2023) by Michal Englert and Malgorzata Szumowska appears to be a significant and moving film that offers a rare glimpse into the life of a trans woman in Poland across several decades. With strong critical acclaim evidenced by its numerous international film festival nominations and positive reviews from reputable sources, coupled with the established talent of its directors and lead actress, it is a highly recommended watch for those interested in character-driven dramas, LGBTQ+ narratives, and stories that explore the intersection of personal identity and societal change. The film's international distribution suggests it will be accessible to audiences in various regions, offering a valuable and potentially eye-opening cinematic experience.
Comments