In the Rearview (Skąd dokąd)

Maciek Hamela

In the Rearview is an authentic, intimate observation of war as it unfolds, following multiple generations of Ukrainian civilians as they abruptly abandon their homes and rely on the help of director Maciek Hamela’s volunteer aid van to escape the life-threatening conflict. The van traverses tens of thousands of kilometers and serves as a waiting room, hospital, shelter, and zone for confidences and confessions among compatriots thrown together by chance. It is a collective portrait composed of an array of experiences of Ukrainians who share a single goal: finding a safe haven in the throes of conflict. With temporary asylum granted to all passengers, their differences become irrelevant. Hamela offers us a seat in his car, guiding the documentary from behind the wheel and behind the camera.

Poland, France, Ukraine 2023, '85

DIRECTOR: Maciek Hamela

CAMERA: Yura Dunay, Wawrzyniec Skoczylas, Marcin Sierakowski, Piotr Grawender

MONTAGE: Piotr Ogiński

MUSIC: Antoni Komasa-Łazarkiewicz

PRODUCERS: Piotr Grawender, Maciek Hamela

PRODUCTION: Pemplum, Affinity Cine

FESTIVALS & AWARDS:

DMZ Docs (2023)
Toronto IFF (2023)
Odesa IFF: The Best Ukrainian Documentary Feature (2023)
DokuFest (2023)
IceDocs: Special Mention (2023)
Sheffield DocFest: Grand Jury Prize (2023)
Cannes FF (2023)
Millennium Docs Against Gravity: Best Polish Film; Arthouse Cinema Association Award (2023)

Maciek Hamela

Maciek Hamela is a film and radio producer, director and scriptwriter. Born in Warsaw, Poland, he received a master's degree from Sorbonne University (Paris IV) in French literature. Worked in renovations and as a tour guide, while studying film directing at École Internationale de Création Audiovisuelle et de Réalisation (EICAR). He is a longtime BBC Channel collaborator. A co-creator and a producer of a documentary short film Bless You, for which he received a Doc Alliance Award within the Cannes Docs program (Cannes FF 2021), the short was also presented at Millennium Docs Against Gravity FF. He produced films such as Convictions (MDR Film Prize for an outstanding Eastern European documentary film at Dok Leipzig IFF 2016), Gatherers of Sea Grass, Polonaise or Parquet. Being a director and a producer of various radio works he has received the Silver Melchior Radio Award in the Polish Radio Reporters National Competition. He produced and co-directed Plan B, a documentary podcast series for Audioteka.

In the Rearview (Skąd dokąd)

Maciek Hamela

Maciek Hamela

FilmFreeway