The Sundance Festival, the largest celebration of independent cinema, has begun. Its program features numerous documentaries that will have their Polish premieres during the 22nd Millennium Docs Against Gravity. These are stories about politics, self-discovery, care for the future, and the pursuit of justice. Polish audiences will be able to see them from May 9 to 18 in cinemas across seven Polish cities, and later online from May 20 to June 2 at mdag.pl.
MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN, dir. David Borenstein
Energetic teacher Pasha works at the same elementary school he attended as a child in his hometown in the Ural Mountains. However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 changed everything. Suddenly, the school and community he cherished transformed from places of learning and free expression into spaces of militarization and state ideology. As students and their family members are recruited to fight, Pasha faces the question of what one person can do in such a situation. He decides to go undercover to film what is really happening in his school. Created in secrecy over two years, this film offers an unforgettable portrait of life in contemporary Russia and the difficult choices citizens face when their beloved country falls into the hands of an autocratic ruler.
LIFE AFTER, dir. Reid Davenport
In 1983, Elizabeth Bouvia, a disabled Californian, petitioned for the "right to die," sparking a nationwide debate on autonomy, dignity, and the value of lives with disabilities. After years of legal battles, Bouvia disappeared from public view. Director Reid Davenport, who himself lives with a disability, narrates an investigative tale exploring what happened to Bouvia. With a signature participatory approach, Davenport weaves a story that is both engaging and personal. His insightful perspective and palpable passion turn a complex legal case into a broad, existential exploration of the sanctity of life versus the harsh realities faced by people with disabilities in a prejudiced society.
SPEAK., dir. Jennifer Tiexiera, Guy Mossman
Five top high school speakers spend a year honing their mesmerizing speeches, dreaming of winning one of the world's most prestigious and demanding oratory competitions. Directors Jennifer Tiexiera and Guy Mossman take us behind the scenes of a contest that has featured participants like Oprah, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Josh Gad, and Brad Pitt. The film offers an emotional glimpse into the lives of five competitors facing immense pressure while tackling pressing social issues in their speeches, such as anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and the epidemic of school shootings. A new generation of leaders is emerging to address the challenges of an increasingly complex world.
FREE LEONARD PELTIER, dir. Jesse Short Bull, David France
Leonard Peltier, a living leader of the American Indian Movement, has been imprisoned for 50 years following a controversial conviction. A new generation of Native activists is fighting for his release before it’s too late. For many, Peltier symbolizes resistance to oppression. In this insightful documentary rich with archival footage, directors Jesse Short Bull and David France examine Peltier's imprisonment, the FBI's actions leading to his conviction, and ongoing efforts for his freedom. By situating Peltier's struggle within the 500-year history of Native resistance, the film highlights it as part of a larger narrative of historical and contemporary injustices faced by Indigenous communities in the U.S. The fight for Peltier’s release remains a vital part of the broader pursuit of justice.
GEN_, dir. Gianluca Matarrese
At Milan's Niguarda Public Hospital, Dr. Bini courageously oversees prospective parents undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures while also supporting individuals aligning with their gender identity. Operating within the constraints of a conservative government and facing an aggressive market that commodifies human bodies, Dr. Bini navigates a politically charged environment where reproductive rights and gender expression are often abstracted. Through rare access and an intimate filmmaking style, the audience witnesses the deep emotional and physical care Dr. Bini and his colleagues dedicate to helping people fulfill their dreams of having children or embracing their true identities.
SALLY, dir. Cristina Costantini
Sally Ride became the first American woman to travel to space, but she kept a personal secret. Sally’s life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, reveals their hidden love and the sacrifices accompanying their 27-year relationship. Cristina Costantini’s rich portrait of the astronaut goes beyond the headlines about her groundbreaking spaceflight, intertwining the story of the life she shared with her partner and her career in the space program, marked by overt sexism and homophobia that forced her to live in secrecy. Rare archival materials transport viewers behind the scenes of NASA training and space missions, while press coverage highlights the media frenzy surrounding Ride before and after her historic first flight.
All these films will premiere for Polish audiences during the 22nd Millennium Docs Against Gravity. The festival will run from May 9 to 18, 2025, in cinemas across seven cities (Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdynia, Poznań, Katowice, Łódź, and Bydgoszcz) and online from May 20 to June 2 at mdag.pl! The festival’s patron is Bank Millennium (https://www.bankmillennium.pl/).
