ENFF On Tour: Imago (Olga Chajdas, 2023)

Olga Chajdas | 2023 | Poland, NL, Czech Republic | 113’ | EN subs

Since 2008, Eastern Neighbours Film Festival (ENFF) offers Dutch and international audiences a unique glimpse into the cinema of their neighbours from Central, South, and Southeast Europe.

Imago (2023) is a post-punk psychological drama exploring otherness, the pursuit of freedom, and the complicated bond between a mother and daughter. Set in 1987, young Ela is searching for her place in the bleak, communist Poland. Energetic and full of ideas, yet burdened by doubts and a complicated relationship with her mother, Ela finds solace and a sense of freedom within the alternative art scene, eventually becoming the lead singer of a post-punk band. Director Olga Chajdas co-wrote the script with the charismatic Lena Gora, who plays the lead character, inspired by her own mother. Together, they bring a complex female character to the screen, caught between artistic ambition, motherhood, and her inner struggles. On a broader level, the film vividly portrays the Baltic Tri-City art scene during a time of significant political change.

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