Once again after Rose (2011), Smarzowski pillaged the visual conventions of the western genre. The fact that such a talented director decided to open one of the Pandora’s boxes from Poland’s recent history is a privilege for movie-goers.

Given how emotive and raw the subject is, it's remarkable how even-handed Smarzowski manages to be.

This movie depicts what happens when we "other" our fellow human beings to the point of insanity setting in. It starts out nicely, with the celebration of a wedding, a festivity which involves the whole town, both Polish and Ukrainian families, in the late spring of 1939. But there is an undercurrent of ugliness circulating in the midst of the merriment. I had no idea the depths to which things would fall. For this is part of WWII-era history I never knew before today. How does someone live amongst people, intermarry, work side by side, share food and laughter -- but all the while have bitterness in their hearts towards those same people because of a belief that one's own life is miserable because of THOSE people? The movie needs to be watched very carefully as there is important foreshadowing that I missed on the first viewing. Hate is a sickness, the ultimate madness, a form of self-hatred. As we've seen throughout history, it can destroy everything around it. And in the next cycle, alliances shift and there is someone new to hate. Madness. Edited to add: After a third watch, I must remark on the good people. The helpers. Not very many but I hope the real-life helpers all died with a clear conscience, knowing they helped when they could.

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