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 had 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
PRESS
VARIETY
BY STEPHEN SAITO
„Somewhere in a cinematic landscape that includes Yorgos Lanthimos and Lucile Hadžihalilović lies Helena Ganjalyan and Bartosz Szpak’s “Glorious Summer,” […] which ably demonstrates the power of illusions, and its filmmakers impress not only in conjuring them strongly, but in sharply piercing them as well.”
COLLIDER
BY MAGGIE LOVITT
„Ganjalyan and Szpak use the film to entertain and horrify in the very same breath.”
„There are echoes of influence from American filmmakers like Sofia Coppola and Ari Aster found throughout Glorious Summer, but Ganjalyan and Skpak craft a film that most American filmmakers couldn’t pull off.”
LOUD & CLEAR
BY JOSHUA STEVENS
Taking from Bergman and Tarkovsky, Szpak and Ganjalyan tell a tale that feels otherworldly, yet all-too-real at the same time. They implore their audience to think about what might be controlling them, what might be causing fear and isolation, and what it would take to achieve real freedom. It’s glorious in a way I wasn’t expecting, and I hope others quickly discover its beauty.
JURGEN SOSA
Laced with an enthralling story, beautifully hazy cinematography and dialogue so poetic and profound, it was impossible to look away for even a moment (…). These performances were outstanding. This film is elegant and opulent and does so well in presenting its premise, themes and message. This is a one of a kind film that pulls from cerebral concepts like totalitarian dystopianism, drenched in summer and sunshine. A beautiful oxymoron with a poignant question that acts as the throughline of this entire film, refusing to absolve you of its existence. This is what all art should strive to be.
FILM BOOK
BY
No Americans arrive to stir the pot in Glorious Summer but it feels that our three lovely ladies featured in this picture are into something far more inexplicably frightening than anything Aster can conjure up on-screen. That creepiness which is conveyed in this picture by its directors is matched by three fearless performances (…).
CINAPSE
BY EDDIE STRAIT
Much like the works of Sofia Coppola, Glorious Summer is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and moves with an intoxicating slowness. The film unfolds like a fever dream, blurring the lines between utopia and imprisonment. Every lingering glance, every measured silence, every sun-drenched frame adds to the creeping sense of unease. (…) The performances are mesmerizing with each actress embodying a blend of innocence, quiet defiance, and aching desire to escape. Their sisterhood feels both intimate and fragile, a bond formed not by choice but by necessity.
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 sales agent, production team or our publicist.
CONTACT US
Maria Gołoś | Producer
+48 519 822 465
maria.rozbratfilms@gmail.com
Monika Matuszewska | Producer
+48 534 252 515
monika.rozbratfilms@gmail.com
Miguel Angel Govea | Sales Agent
ALIEF ►
+33 6 60 50 87 62
miguel@alief.co.uk
Emily Lu Aldrich (Accolade PR & Consulting) | Publicist US
+1 909 472 6955
emily@accoladepr.com