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Release date: 24 September 2023
Running time: 112 minutes
In 1980’s Poland, Maryska’s (Malgorzata Gorol) life plans change dramatically when she becomes pregnant. Her sister Marta (Marta Malikowska) offers to help her raise the child, and initially the arrangement works. Unfortunately, circumstances change and Marysia is left raising the young boy by herself. It later becomes apparent that the boy, who can only say one word - Subuk (his name backwards) is autistic – not a condition widely known or accepted in Poland at the time. We follow her over two decades as she clashes with schools, social services and neighbours in her quest to keep him in “normal” school and allow him to take exams, meeting fierce resistance and prejudice at every turn (in one heartbreaking scene, she is told to put him in an institution and have “a new healthy child”). Based on a true story, Malgorzata Gorol turns in a moving and good-humoured performance as the feisty Maryskam, whose unstoppable one woman crusade recalls dramas Lorenzo’s Oil and Erin Brockovich. Please note: There will be no ads or trailers, so please arrive promptly at the advertised start time. For more information on the Cheltenham International Film Festival, please visit https://cheltfilm.com/
Original title: CIFF23 - UK PREMIERE : Subuk / Kubus (Backwards)
Cast: Andrzej Seweryn, Aleksandra Konieczna, Malgorzata Gorol, Filip Pławiak, Marta Malikowska, Wojciech Dolatowski, Wojciech Krupinski
Director: Jacek Lusinski
Production: 2023
Age restrictions: 15
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