Amsterdam Polish Film Festival: Nina and Fugue

The 4th Amsterdam Polish Film Festival (31 October – 2 November 2025) organized by Polish Culture NL in collaboration with De Balie, shines a spotlight on a new generation of Polish female film directors. On the first day we screen Nina and Fugue.

Schedule
17.00 – 19.15: Nina
20.15 – 21.00: in conversation with Olga Chajdas; Redefining identity and breaking free from society’s rules
21.00 – 22.45: Fugue

Nina
Dir. Olga Chajdas, Poland, 2018, 130 min
Nina, a woman in her thirties, is trapped in a marriage overshadowed by the struggle to have a child. When she and her husband meet the young and free-spirited Magda, who might help them realize their dream of becoming parents, an unexpected attraction sparks between Nina and Magda. What begins as a practical arrangement soon grows into a tender exploration of love, desire, and self-discovery. Olga Chajdas’ debut feature is a bold, intimate portrait of a woman who dares to break free from expectations and search for her own truth.

Talk
Following the screening, curator Stefan Malešević will moderate a conversation with director Olga Chajdas, exploring questions of identity, freedom, and the courage to overcome personal and social barriers, segueing into the next film, which is a deeply moving story about difficult love and the search for a new identity beyond society’s expectations.

Fugue
Dir. Agnieszka Smoczyńska, Poland-Czech Republic-Sweden, 2018, ~100 min
After suffering memory loss, Alicja disappears and starts a new life from scratch, free from the bonds of her past. Two years later, her old family finds her and draws her back into the roles of wife, daughter, and mother she no longer remembers. For those around her she looks the same, but to herself she is a stranger in an unfamiliar life. Fugue is a haunting exploration of identity, belonging, and the fragile ties that define who we are.

It is possible to purchase a day ticket or to experience the whole festival by purchasing a combiticket for all three days.