On Tuesday, Warsaw hosted the official premiere of Home Sweet Home, leaving the audience in stunned silence before erupting into applause for Smarzowski, who also directed Clergy, Volhynia and The Dark House.
Known for his uncompromising portrayals of Polish social realities, Smarzowski now turns his lens on domestic abuse, exploring the complex dynamics between perpetrator and victim.
Breaking the silence on domestic violence
The film follows Gośka (Agata Turkot) and Grzesiek (Tomasz Schuchardt). What begins as a fairy-tale romance, complete with a proposal in Venice, quickly descends into a nightmare as Grzesiek’s controlling behaviour transforms their shared home into a place of danger.
Oscar-nominated actress Agata Kulesza also stars, joined by a talented ensemble including Arkadiusz Jakubik, Maria Sobocińska, Andrzej Konopka and Katarzyna Dąbrowska.
Critics have described the film as “a punch to the solar plexus repeated every five minutes.”
Drawing on real testimonies, Smarzowski exposes not only the abuse itself but also the societal silence that allows it to persist.
The story delves into psychological manipulation, personality disorders and trauma - both intergenerational and relational, particularly between mothers and daughters - highlighting how deeply domestic abuse can scar families.
Abuse behind closed doors
Domestic abuse remains a pressing yet often hidden problem in Poland. By bringing these stories to the screen, Home Sweet Home encourages public awareness, sparks crucial conversations and challenges cultural taboos that have long silenced victims.
The film serves as a stark reminder that abuse can occur behind closed doors in any household, and that silence can itself become complicit.
?We wtorek, 4 listopada w @multikino_polska odbyła się uroczysta premiera filmu „Dom Dobry” w reżyserii WOJTKA...
Opublikowany przez ZA Agencja Środa, 5 listopada 2025
Abuse feeds on silence, and people do not always know what is happening behind closed doors, the filmmakers say, urging support for victims and the courage to act when others are being harmed.
Home Sweet Home opens in Polish cinemas on Friday, November 7, and is recommended for audiences aged 15 and older due to its intense content.
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For those affected by domestic abuse, psychological trauma or seeking guidance, help is available through Polish support services: the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800 120 002, the Nationwide Helpline for Children and Youth at 116 111, and the Centre for Support of People in Psychological Crisis at 800 70 2222. All services operate 24/7 and are free of charge.