POLISH FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

CHCESZ POKOJU, SZYKUJ SIĘ DO WOJNY

2023 / 71 min / color

The protagonist of Agnieszka Elbanowska’s debut feature is Tytus (played by Michal Sikorski, one of Poland’s most talented up-and-coming actors), an exceptionally gentle and sensitive boy who is going through training in a paramilitary group. He’s supported by his girlfriend, who undergoes a demanding survival course in the woods alongside him. Unlike Tytus, who seems a bit lost, Natalia (Kinga Jasik) excels in her new position, where discipline and obedience are paramount, and all manifestations of individuality are methodically crushed. The film, whose Polish title refers to a Latin saying popular among paramilitary organizations (Si vis pacem, para bellum – If you want peace, prepare for war) exposes the grotesque absurdity associated with commonly accepted images of masculinity. Using dark humor, Elbanowska addresses our fears related to increasing geopolitical tension, but she also speaks about individuality and possible alternative paths to becoming a hero. Pray For Peace, Train For War is Elbanowska’s unique take on today’s tension-filled reality.