First Day

(Pierwszy dzień)

The western border of Poland: At the time of the People's Republic of Poland, the border prevented Poles from entering a different world altogether. The existence of this other world was discomforting, as are all unknowns, but it also enticed, beckoned, and promised change. Today, such borders are being questioned again, and serve as a flashback in individual memory.

The movie recounts these first days and weeks, when Poles' perceptions of a different life across the borderline were confronted with the realities of West Germany. They all had different reasons for crossing the border. Having packed up all of their belongings in a proverbial single suitcase, they abandoned their families, homes, friends and dreams in the hope of getting a taste of freedom.

For some, engaged in politics or forced into politics, departure was a point of no return. This was the case for pole vaulter, Władysław Kozakiewicz, Poland's Olympic champion, famous for his “gesture” during the Moscow games of 1980. How does it feel to abandon the air one has breathed all one’s life and be forced to learn how to breathe from scratch? How much courage does one need to muster for that? For some, finding themselves in this new world did not take long, for others, it took very long indeed.

Director: Jezior and Sabina Kaluza, Christine

Screenplay: Christine Jezior, Sabina Kaluza

Cinematography: Theo Solonik

Music: Oskar Jezior

Film Editor: Oskar Jezior

Runtime: 82 minutes

Release Year: 2014

Genre: Documentary