Love and Empty Words (Miłość i puste słowa)

Director: Małgorzata Imielska, Production: TVP, Country: Poland, Language: Polish, 78’, 2018, Rights: US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, Scandinavia. 

An intimate story of love in the face of an incurable disease. Love in spite of suffering, anger and powerlessness. The protagonists are Adam and Wanda, a long-time married couple. He is healthy, but she suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. The starting point of the story is the moment when the woman’s condition starts to deteriorate rapidly and her amnesia gradually becomes more and more intense. Adam looks after his wife alone. Every day, twenty-four hours a day. He washes her, feeds her and changes her diapers. And he constantly reminds her of their old life. He shows her their old home movies from the past when they were both young and in love. Adam has decided that he will not abandon Wanda, against the advice of doctors and family. He decides he will not do it even when she forgets his name. He knows that her eyes are always looking for him. Will he be able to keep his promise?

Awards

2018 – “Man in Threat” Festival – Polish Filmmakers Association Award

2019 – Pune Great Message International Film Festival, Pune – Best Director of a Documentary Film

2019 – Calcutta International Cult Film Festival – Award in the category: Women’s Films

2019 – Hong Kong International Film Festival – International Selection Critics’ Award

2019 – Polish Film Festival “Ekran”, Toronto – The Best Director Award for a Documentary