A street in downtown Warsaw is the focus of this witty and personal portrait of Poland. Arjun Talwar immigrated here a decade ago, but still has trouble fitting in. “Wolf Street” – or “Ulica Wilcza” – hasn’t made it easy for him. In an attempt to accelerate his integration, the director begins filming his neighbours, testing his relationships with them, while seeking ways to overcome his own alienation. With the help of his friend Mo, another immigrant-turned-filmmaker, Arjun uncovers the hidden mysteries of the street, revealing a web of charming characters.

This is the synopsis for Letters from Wolf Street [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film], a new documentary directed by Indian-born filmmaker Arjun Talwar, set to world-premiere in the Panorama section of the upcoming 75th Berlinale.

In the words of the director, "When I first came to Poland in 2010, I found the country charming but also experienced a cultural shock. Over time, I learned the language and adapted to life here. Yet, I could never truly call Poland home. Coming from India, a country that’s really diverse, I couldn’t relate to Poland’s homogenous culture. What riled me most were the shouts of 'Osama' and 'Michael Jackson' that I heard while walking down the street. Poland today has changed. There are more foreigners than ever, yet people from India, Georgia, and Vietnam remain absent from public discourse, even as they drive taxis and cook for the country’s urban population. I feel the time is right to describe this place from an immigrant’s perspective."

Arjun Talwar grew up in Delhi and studied Mathematics before being admitted to the Cinematography Department of the Polish Film School in Łódź. His short films have been screened at various international festivals, and his first documentary feature, A Donkey Called Geronimo [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film], premiered at DOK Leipzig and was later released in cinemas.

Letters from Wolf Street was produced by Karolina Śmigiel and Jarosław Wszędybył for Uni-Solo Studio (Poland) in co-production with Friedemann Hottenbacher and Gregor Streiber for inselfilm produktion (Germany). Its international sales are up for grabs.

Check out our exclusive trailer below: