BLOODLINE
Wojciech Węglarz / Poland / 2024 / 12 min / Colour
On the border between Poland and Belarus stands a wall that separates a bison from its herd. Prevented from crossing that barrier, the animal unwillingly becomes a witness to the dramatic events unfolding on both sides: deer chased by wolves, refugees pursued by border guards. That wall, built by humans, becomes an absurd obstacle for animals too—and a symbol of all borders. The bison becomes an emblematic metaphor for all the men and women separated from their loved ones. In the end, the bison’s and the human gaze are the same, both looking upon a physical and emotional divide of which they fall equally victim.
Wojciech Węglarz
A Polish cinematographer, director, and screenwriter, he studied at the National Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź and now lives in Katowice. His first short film as director, Bloodline (2024), earned awards at the CinemAmbiente Festival in Turin and the Kraków Film Festival, and was presented in competition at IDFA.
