Jak najdalej stąd

Sadness and helplessness behind the mask of adolescent rebellion. In terms of its subject matter, I Never Cry is a standard drama taken “from real life”, but it is thoughtful, engaging and powerful in its execution. Striking dialogue, the great Zofia Stafiej in the lead role, dedicated to the story, without the slightest hesitation in a demanding, tense acting state of mind. The screenplay doesn’t merely wallow in the gloomy situation, as many filmmakers would have conceived it, but rather leads the protagonist step by step, character by character and place by place in a futile effort to get to know the world in which her recently deceased, long estranged father lived. The formal trip to a foreign country to claim his body is thus transformed into an essential event of her growing up. You will experience it with her. [3Kino Fest] (15.11.2020)

I thought this was going to be another typical coming-of-age story of a teenage girl who’s searching. Searching for her place in life, a purpose, a way to escape a consumerist society, freedom – searching and searching and searching while making everyone's life a living hell. The Polish filmmakers, however, came up with a different story. The main character was indeed searching (somewhat belatedly) for a way to her father. She was a bit selfish, didn’t give a crap about the environment, and had trouble saying please or thank you at least occasionally, but I found her very relatable, much to my own surprise. In the end, it turned out to be a very different film from what I was expecting. While it wasn't exactly an action-packed film full of suspense, I oddly couldn't tear myself away from it. Polish cinema deserves praise yet again. I really liked Zofia Stafiej in her debut. This being her first role, it sure was a tough job. / Lesson learned: If you're going to transport a body, do it only in powder form. (16.10.2022)