Film releases spark debate in Polish cinemas

The Polish film market is seeing diverse cinematic offerings, ranging from nostalgic classics to polarizing modern thrillers. The Offeliada Film Club recently hosted its 30th screening featuring Marek Piestrak’s 1988 adventure film, ‘Klątwa doliny węży’ (The Curse of the Valley of Snakes). The event included guest speaker Michał Oleszczyk, who discussed the film’s origins during the era of material shortages in Poland and the director’s personal history.

In contrast, the new release ‘Upadek wieloryba’ (In the Belly of the Whale), directed by Brian Duffield and starring Austin Abrams, has divided critics. Based on the biblical story of Jonah, the film follows a man swallowed by a sperm whale while diving off the coast of California. While some critics have dismissed the premise as B-movie material, others have praised its originality, describing it as a metaphor for grief and a brutal horror experience.