A Quick Chat

The Word is a modern emotional coming of age story involving a crime. The Glare caught up with the film’s director Anna Kazejak during the Berlinale.

Do emotions play a large role in the film?

Manipulation is one. Lila does this a lot. For me it is very a personal film based on my emotions and what I am dealing with in my life.

Describe Lila’s emotional state.

Lila does not want to be betrayed. She has a hard time connecting. Her relationships with her father and boyfriend are via Internet.

Do you think Social Media has dehumanized relationships for this generation?

Oh yes! Digital relationships are not true relationships. Words have different meaning in social media.

Why did you avoid graphic details?

I wanted the viewer to concentrate on the emotions, the psychological drama with the crime elements. The puzzle comes together toward the end of the film.

Was casting a challenge?

I casted non-professionals, it took six months to complete. We did not get Eliza Rycembel (Lila) until 2 weeks before shooting. I was really nervous, but I was sure she would be fine. The reason why I decided on an inexperienced cast was because I wanted real reactions.

What is the state of the Polish Film Industry?

The industry is better. Polish producers think about the domestic audience but younger producers are looking outward to international markets to break the glass ceiling. Co-productions markets like the type set at the Berlin Film Festival helps a lot. All directors want to be on a big platform.

Anna Kazejak is a graduate of the Lodz Film School. The Word is her first feature; a co-production from Denmark and Poland.

Cast: Eliza Rycembel, Mateusz Więcławek, Magdalena Popławska, Dawid Ogrodnik, Andrzej Chyra, Stine Stengade, Luxuria Astaroth, Jowita Budnik, Bartek Topa, Nikodem Rozbicki, Krzysztof Bauman, Andrzej Konopka