Ela - Sketches on a Departure (2017)

• 70%
• 2017
• Drama
• Karolina Romuk-Wodoracka
• Karolina Porcari
• Mikolaj Trzbinski

Ela, a young Polish woman, lives together with her elder sister Janina and her nephew Mikolaj in harsh conditions of a small provincial town. Her daily life is stuck in the constant routine of work and family life. At night she goes to work in a laundry parlour. All the money she earns there is spent on supporting her family. Ela spends her free time with her long-term boyfriend, Jakub, the laundry-delivery boy. Even though her sister disapproves of him, she enjoys the trust and love they share. But Ela has a dream. Just like many young Polish people, Ela wants to escape the tristesse of her existence and move west to search for a better life. Having spent months saving up for the flight ticket to Ireland, Ela still can't bring herself to finalize her decision to leave. The thought of parting with young Mikolaj, whose loyalty for his aunt is even defended on the playground, breaks her heart. And even though Jakub offers to help her finance the trip, he still can't help showing his contempt towards Ela's dream of the "better world". Only her sister Janina pushes Ela to believe in her longings and wishes beyond the borders of Poland. Finally, Ela faces the bitter fact, that even the biggest stories of love, desire and devotion can end. And new stories must be found elsewhere.