Jarosław Kaczyński, the head of Poland’s governing Law and Justice party, contends that Agnieszka Holland’s film, “The Green Border,” suggests Poland’s potential approval of migrant relocation and the removal of the border fence with Belarus.
The film revolves around a fictional group of refugees attempting to enter Poland from Belarus. However, upon crossing the border, they face deportation by Polish Border Guards, seemingly unconcerned about their predicament.
“The Green Border,” which has just been released in Poland, made its debut at this year’s Venice Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim.
Sharing his perspective on the film, Kaczyński commented, “It appears to be setting the stage for the removal of the border fence and a willingness to consider relocation.”
Poland has been a vocal opponent of the European Union’s recent proposals for migrant relocation, which require EU member states to accept an initial quota of 30,000 migrants from countries experiencing significant migration flows from the Middle East and Africa, such as Greece and Italy. Alternatively, they must pay approximately EUR 22,000 per non-admitted migrant.
Kaczyński emphasized, “This film should be viewed as a political statement.”
He also pointed out that the movie received substantial financial support from sources closely associated with the main opposition force, particularly in Warsaw and Masovia, a central region of Poland that includes the capital city. Additionally, Kaczyński claimed that various external institutions with ties to the European Commission contributed to the film’s funding.
The backdrop to this contentious debate is the aftermath of the 2021 migrant crisis, during which hundreds of migrants attempted to enter Poland from Belarus. In response, the Polish government decided to fortify its border with Belarus by erecting a fence equipped with electronic surveillance systems. The Polish government has accused Belarusian authorities of orchestrating the crisis to create instability in both Poland and the European Union.