The Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival, held in Glasgow, is a celebration of Eastern European cinema. This cultural event showcases independent, often hard-to-access films that tackle the region’s pressing social, political, and cultural issues. The festival aims to promote Eastern European filmmaking and offer Western audiences a deeper understanding of this part of the world. Łoziński’s documentary is set to be screened at the festival on 5th October at 6 pm (BST). Further details about the event can be found on the festival’s official website.
Meanwhile, the Southside Community Centre in Edinburgh is a vibrant cultural hub offering a wide array of programs and services for the local community. The centre hosts diverse events, workshops, and activities that foster integration and personal development among residents. The Southside Community Centre’s mission is to strengthen social bonds and encourage active participation in local community life. The Balcony Movie will be shown at the centre on 26th October at 6:30 pm (BST). More information about the centre is available here.
The Scotland-bound documentary poses several profoundly universal questions: Can anyone be the protagonist of a film? Can you fit the world in a single frame? Director Paweł Łoziński observes people from his balcony. Passersby appear smiling, sad, contemplative, or engrossed in their mobile phones; young and old alike. Some are local residents, others are chance visitors, all of them ordinary people going about their day. The director engages with his subjects, posing questions and discussing how they cope with life’s challenges. By positioning himself with his camera on the balcony for over two years, he created a space for dialogue — a secular confessional where anyone could pause and share their story with others. His subjects carry within them enigmas and secrets, defying easy labels. Each human story is unique, proving that life can indeed be stranger than fiction.
The Balcony Movie represents a radical return to cinema’s roots, when individuals would approach to the camera rather than the other way around. Perhaps all it takes is to pause for a moment longer to see more of the world around us.