IT TAKES A VILLAGE/ PODLASIE     

Poland, 2026, 96 minutes, Colour.

Anna Seniuk, Artur Barcis.

Directed by Lukasz Kosmicki.

This film is a sequel to the popular polish comedy drama, No Pressure. The central characters are back again.

This is a Polish kind of comedy, polished style. Tone is set with the opening, a wedding, everybody running late, including the parish priest, everybody in a rush. Then the emergence that the wedding is between two elderly members of the community – and, dramatic tantrum during the wedding and the groom left at the altar.

All kinds of complications, focusing on Halina, the grandmother, making cheese, losing money on loans, embarrassed, calling off the wedding. The other character is Jan, a talented sculptor in the village. And, as always, a whole lot of minor characters standing around, becoming involved, farmers, the policewoman, a rather simple man who gets involved in all kinds of business and emotional tangles.

The main part of the film is the sculptor deciding to help Halina financially by creating circle crops and publicising aliens visiting the village, welcoming tourists and selling the cheese… And more than a few complications there.

And, emotional complications, the return of Halina’s daughter, an artist, and her contribution to settling the difficulties, and her daughter running the restaurant with her husband

Very much a European comedy, a lot of polish traditions, pagan rituals, Catholic traditions, strong-minded characters, some shady dealings – but, of course, a return to the opening, everybody running late for the wedding, but the wedding a success.

1. Sequel to No Pressure, characters, situations?
2. The title, small towns, communities, everybody participating, friendships, entities, rivalries? But, with the comic touch?
3. The views of the town, the countryside, the visuals, the marriage ceremony and the ruined church, homes, restaurant, cheesemaking, the fields and the crop circles, the markets…? Musical score, songs?
4. The opening, the wedding, everybody late, rushing, bridesmaids, police, the priest and the altar servers, his concern about the collection plate? Audiences thinking the young couple to be married, discovering that it was Halina and Jan? The role of the priest, his comments, his being part of the village life, the Catholic rituals, Halina and her reaction, hesitation, Jan and his love for her, her pretending to faint, the bridesmaids taking her away, the wedding off, the revelation about the finances, and his investments?
5. The reaction of everyone at the wedding, calling it off, Halina and her daughter, the restaurant, the daughter’s husband, their concern?
6. Jan, his age, sculptor, his range of sculptures, including Halina, Angel? Hopes? The friendship with Wojtek and his mixing everything up?
7. The financial situation, secrets, everybody wanting to know? The revelation of Halina taking an extra loan, the large debt? Her pride, wanting to pay back, making the cheese? Selling the cheese? The decision to sell the family land?
8. The arrival of her daughter, artist, sketches, her painting the mural, contact with her daughter, clashes with her mother, her daughter’s father-in-law and the friendship, possibilities? Wotjek and his infatuation, admiring her, imagining her, singing, posing for the mural, her having to speak directly to him?
9. The plan of the crop circles, aliens, Jan’s idea, the tourists to come, to sell the cheese? The visuals of the circles? Theories of aliens? Wojtek and his filming everything? The tourists arriving, the range of tourists, the touch of gullibility as well as curiosity, the children, parents, selling the cheese, selling the pies?
10. Julian, the complications, Wotjek filming the couple, reporting Jan? The flashbacks, Halina and the dance, drinking, the night? Julian arriving, proposing, taking them into the countryside, caught in the bowl, Jan confronting him, getting the force and getting out, confronting Halina? Julian’s return, Wotjek and the traditional rituals, pagan origins, celebrated in the town, Julian drinking, wandering, his offer to buy the land? The final meeting and his wanting to escape?
11. Halina, the ups and downs, her temper, discussions with Jan, learning the truth, wanting to sell the property, then wanting it for her daughter and family, her daughter ringing the New York agent, the plan for selling Jan’s sculptures?
12. The happy ending, Jan and Halina together, the marriage ceremony and the repetition of everybody being late, including the priest, suggesting the young couple also marry, the gathering, the photos, the problems with the restaurant, cooking, the wife and losing her taste, the revelation about pregnancy?
13. The role of the priest, from the town itself, part of the culture, knowing everybody, longtime parish priest, preoccupation about money in the collection plate, the selling of the cheese and his wanting some funds for the church, Jan collaborating with him, his being present at the wedding dinner, in the fields with the crop circles and his comments, promoting them, part of the community, and the final wedding, his comments about the kiss to be left for the wedding night, a Polish view of country clergy?