Directed by: Monika Majorek
Starring: Maja Pankiewicz, Bartłomiej Topa, Agata Kulesza
Rating: ★★★☆☆
It was by no means certain that Bartłomiej Topa, a leading thesp in contemporary Polish cinema, would accept to play a dead character in Monika Majorek’s debut full length film. Agata Kulesza as well, one of Pawlikowski’s favourite actress to work with, was happy to star in Innego końca nie będzie (Where Do We Begin). At least Kulesza played a live part, and unlike Topa, was not filmed in grainy VHS quality.
In Majorek’s drama, Kulesza acts the role of a mother of three siblings. They all cope in a different way to the loss of their father played by Topa. The eldest sister and photographer by profession Ola (Maja Pankiewicz), who does not live anymore with her brother Pipek and sister Ajka at the countryside, is shocked to discover that her childhood house has been put on the market and that her mother has a boyfriend.
While the property is being decluttered, Ola comes across some forgotten pictures and footage from family home videos. She goes through the photos and decides to reenact them with her siblings in a nostalgic attempt to revive the past. As the film progresses, we learn more about the family dynamics, the circumstances of her father’s demise and Ola’s consequent struggle to accept that death is final and irreversible.
Pankiewicz, who also starred in Piotr Adamski’s battle royale-like austere drama Eastern (2015), does not look out of place next to Topa and Kulesza. Majorek’s directing debut is affecting and manages to tug at the viewers’ heartstrings without resorting to tear-jerking. It is however regrettable that its Polish title which translates into English as “There Will Be No Other End” was not retained for the international release. Where Do We Begin received the Audience Award at the Warsaw International Film Festival.
Film Reviewed by Giuseppe Sedia
Published by Kino Mania on May 16, 2025