“Led by outstanding performances from the central cast, Kocur has crafted an effective…feature which captures how ordinary people cope with a frightening situation.” - Andrew Murray, The Upcoming
In Damian Kocur’s timely UNDER THE VOLCANO, a Ukrainian family is wrapping up their sun-soaked holiday in the Canary Islands when Russia invades their homeland. In an instant, they are no longer tourists, but refugees. Frantically waiting for news from home, father Roman, stepmother Nastia, teenage Sofiia, and young Fedir are grounded: trapped in paradise as other travelers go about their vacations, oblivious to their situation, anxieties, and alienation. UNDER THE VOLCANO, Poland's submission to the Academy Awards for Oscar consideration, is a sensitive and authentic portrait of displacement and unquestionably a war movie, though not a single shot is fired, nor a bomb dropped.
Awards & Nominations
Nominee - Best Film, Polish Film Festival
Winner - Best Debut Actor (Sofia Berezovska)
Chicago European Union Film Festival Spotlight: Poland | It is our pleasure, with the generous support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago, to present two weeks of the best new and classic films from Poland and Polish filmmakers. Join us March 7–20, as we present 20 films, including 13 new titles—and 12 Chicago premieres—alongside classics from filmmakers including Krzysztof Kieślowski, Agnieszka Holland, and Andrzej Wajda. Meet filmmakers visiting us from Poland, and enjoy taste from the country through special events and at concessions.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu