They are trapped between borders. We are trapped by the system. How far will one go in helping another human being?

In 2021, the border area between Poland and Belarus became a forbidden zone, three kilometers wide, where refugees found themselves brutally trapped. They had become the stakes in a political game: Belarus supposedly guaranteed free passage to the EU, but in Poland the refugees met with pushbacks, forcing them back across the border. Once in Belarus again, they were driven back towards Poland—a horrific stalemate in an inhospitable landscape of treacherous marshes.

Maciek lives with his family on the Polish side of the border. He has taken in an exhausted Syrian refugee, the 27-year-old Alhyder. After he has regained his strength, Alhyder faces the big question: what now? Where can he go without putting either himself or Maciek in danger?

The tension is palpable in this sensitive, sharply observant documentary. Without a hint of sensationalism, the camera reads the emotions on the faces of the silent Polish family members and their grateful guest. The situation is dire, and a solution remains out of reach. Yet, at the same time, the film is permeated by the warmth of human help and contact.

The Guest had its World Premiere in the International Competition at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), the world’s largest documentary film festival, where it received Best Cinematography Award.

Dir. Vika Gregory Portnoy & Zuzanna Solakiewicz | 78min | 2024 | Poland, Qatar

"The tension is palpable in this sensitive, sharply observant documentary. Without a hint of sensationalism, the camera reads the emotions on the faces of the silent Polish family members and their grateful guest. The situation is dire, and a solution remains out of reach. Yet, at the same time, the film is permeated by the warmth of human help and contact" - IDFA, Winner Best Cinematography, International Competition.

" Constructed like a thriller, this flawlessly executed film calls into question our definition of humanity" - Visions du Reel

"a sobering tale of the high stakes of war even for those not directly involved in combat....locate(s) the grace and gratitude that is still possible in a circumstance as tragic as war. It is good advertisement for humanity." - The Film Verdict

"While dealing with this serious and heavy subject matter, the film is nevertheless full of warmth and humour, thanks to Maciek’s kind-hearted personality. His growing attachment to Alhyder and very real and humane investment in his guest’s wellbeing are uplifting and are, in fact, the key strength of the film" - Cineuropa

"lays bare the problems faced by refugees and the compassion of good samaritans...acts of compassion shine a heartwarming light against the darkness of a humanitarian crisis" - Guardian

"The camera perfectly captures the claustrophobic situation" - Modern Times Review

"A tense and sensitive documentary that, without sensationalism, allows us to observe the emotions on the faces of the often silent family members and their grateful guest. The situation is disastrous, there is no solution, but the warmth of human contact contrasts with the brutality of a system that traps us all" - Biografilm Festival