In the Rearview

director: Maciek Hamela

original title: In the Rearview

year: 2023

running time: 85 min.

synopsis

The view from the front seat to the back of the car makes up the majority of the shots in this minimalist documentary. The car oscillates back and forth between areas threatened by fighting in Ukraine and the Polish border. Its driver, the film's director, transports male and female war refugees to perceived safety. He drives through bombed-out towns, past destroyed military equipment and through checkpoint after checkpoint. The faces of his passengers sometimes show relaxation, sometimes exhaustion, but almost always a fear of things to come. Apart from the few necessities crammed into their suitcases, they carry with them traumas and fears for those they had to leave at home.

“We never put people in a situation where they felt they needed to do something to get evacuated.”

Source: Point of View Magazine

biography

Maciek Hamela studied literature at the Sorbonne in Paris. He is a long-time contributor to BBC television, has produced a number of award-winning documentaries, and is also a radio producer. He is the co-author of Plan B, a successful documentary podcast about people defying adversity.

more about film

director:	Maciek Hamela
producer:	Maciek Hamela

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