88 min
GLORIOUS SUMMER
A FILM BY HELENA GANJALYAN & BARTOSZ SZPAK
LOGLINE
RUNTIME
FORMAT
16 MM
DESCRIPTION
Hot summer, Renaissance palace. Three women remain in a carefree state of limbo, and an enigmatic system fulfills all their life needs – it provides food, entertainment and development. There is one condition – they are not allowed to cross the wall that surrounds their place. From under the idyllic picture, the other, darker side of the new reality quickly shines through. 'Glorious Summer’ is a story about how much we are willing to give away for a sense of security and lack of responsibility.
The film will have its world premiere at SXSW – South by Southwest Festival 2025.
CREDITS
The film was produced by Rozbrat Films and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY
Helena Ganjalyan & Bartosz Szpak
PRODUCERS
Monika Matuszewska & Maria Gołoś | Rozbrat Films
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Tomasz Woźniczka
EDITOR
Alan Zejer
SET DESIGN
Katarzyna Tomczyk
COSTUMES
Małgorzata Karpiuk & Zuzanna Kot
MAKE-UP
Weronika Zielińska
CAST
Magdalena Fejdasz-Hanczewska, Helena Ganjalyan, Daniela Komędera, Weronika Humaj
SYNOPSIS
In a serene, sun-drenched world, three young girls spend their days in carefree play, mindfulness exercises, and idle contentment. Their every need is meticulously cared for by an all-encompassing, nurturing system that keeps their lives perfectly stable and predictable. For years, they’ve lived in this blissful, responsibility-free bubble, where summer never ends.
But cracks soon begin to appear in this idyllic picture. Lip-reading, because some things can’t be said out loud. Secretly practicing how to die, which is supposed to be the ticket to 'another place’. Listening for explosions rumbling in the distance.
Beneath the smiles and cheerful surface, anger and resentment that have been suppressed for years start to surface. The wellness-focused daily routine begins to feel more like a form of enslavement. Everything is heading toward inevitable catastrophe.
Will the girls, raised in a state of perpetual immaturity, be able to cross the boundaries imposed on them by the system?
DIRECTORS' STATEMENT
You wake up. The sun is shining. You eat what you want. You don’t have to do anything, you don’t have to strive for anything. You don’t go anywhere, you don’t have any obligations. You know what awaits you… and that’s how every day looks like.
A world without decisions, without a sense of responsibility. One in which there is space to live, apparent peace and detachment from everyday problems. A world of positive affirmation, in which only the 'here and now’ counts. 'Glorious Summer’ is a film about whether such state is worth sacrificing your freedom, agency and the possibility of experiencing life to the fullest.
We observe three heroines whose lives have been enclosed within the boundaries of what is within their sight. They function in one, common space, cut off from the outside world, from any religion, politics, media. They only have to 'be’. Their emotions seem to be limited to those they know the names for, and 'pain’, 'sadness’ or 'anger’ have been crossed out of the dictionary.
The system in which our characters live is a response to the world of overstimulation, excess of possibilities, satiety. 'Glorious Summer’ is supposed to be synonymous with peace, prosperity, moderation, predictability, and immutability. It is a space with a predetermined value system, in which slogans known from mindfulness or wellness workshops are pushed to the limits of absurdity.
The goal is to eliminate uncertainty and the element of questioning, while creating an easy-to-manage society – one that does not doubt, does not worry and above all does not increase its needs or expectations. The palace in which the characters live is a representation of the past – a new man is being created on the ruins of the old civilization.
The rules of this reality are extremely transparent and clear. The lack of responsibility and anxiety related to plans and unrealized possibilities is supposed to be the key to an 'easy’ life experience.
However, as time passes, the inevitable human complexity shines through. The question arises – can an eternal state of peace and well-being, devoid of balancing opposites, still be experienced as something positive?
In 'Glorious Summer’ we want to ask the question about the importance of responsibility and the resulting maturity which amount to becoming an 'adult’.
PRODUCERS' STATEMENT
’Glorious Summer’ is a journey through an imagined reality, inspired by the works of Yorgos Lanthimos (’Poor Things’), Ari Aster (’Midsommar’), and the critically acclaimed Apple TV series 'Severance’.
It is an exceptionally original project, both in its subject matter and its formal approach. It is a bold and deeply personal exploration of a unique cinematic language.
The film will emphasize a strong visual style with meticulously crafted, painterly frames – poetic yet visually captivating for the audience. It delves into unconventional and complex relationships, set against the backdrop of a beautiful, sunlit, and luminous location.
The film will premiere in March 2025 at one of the biggest American film festivals: SXSW – South by Southwest.
Our primary goal is to secure the widest possible festival circuit. We will strive to continue presenting the film at the most prestigious film festivals. Additionally, we are in contact with potential distributors, aiming to bring the film not only to festival audiences but also to cinema-goers and streaming platform subscribers.
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HANDY INFORMATION
If you are interested in our film, feel free to get in touch with our production team or one of our publicists.
CONTACT US
Maria Gołoś | Producer
+48 519 822 465
maria.rozbratfilms@gmail.com
Monika Matuszewska | Producer
+48 534 252 515
monika.rozbratfilms@gmail.com
Karolina Sienkiewicz (So FILMS) | Publicist PL
+48 600 271 634
karolina.sienkiewicz@sofilms.