The humanitarian crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border—this time seen not through the eyes of activists but from the perspective of a refugee family who managed to escape the nightmare. Sixteen-year-old Kurdish girl Runa, along with her parents and siblings, reaches the forested border. After spending several harrowing days in the Białowieża Forest, the family finds their way to a refugee center—but not together. Runa’s mother, who was previously rescued from the forest, dies in the hospital. Grieving, the young girl suddenly finds herself responsible for her brothers and father, who mask their sorrow with anger and a sense of helplessness. Runa’s experiences are revealed through her drawings and animations, expressing traumatic memories from the forest, fear, and loneliness. Even with the looming threat of deportation, Runa summons nearly superhuman strength to remain grounded, even optimistic, determined to fulfill her mother’s dream—to build a new life in Poland.   

Marta Lityńska