WHEN I AM A BIRD / KIEDY BEDE PTAKIEM  

country, year

Poland, 2013

genre

documentary

running time

28′

directed by

Monika Pawluczuk

language

Thai

subtitles

English

 

synopsis

MuLa lives in a Thai village by the Burmese border. She is a member of the Kajan people and her neck is adorned with characteristic gold neck-rings. She has not had an easy life as she had to leave her native Burma and seek refuge in Thailand, while her only daughter stayed behind. MuLa makes a living selling souvenirs to tourists, but the family’s financial situation is very difficult. Monika Pawluczuk’s documentary captures this woman’s struggle with her depressing fate and her unquenchable longing for a better life.

 

about the author

Monika Pawluczuk is a radio and TV journalist and documentary film-maker. She holds a degree in cultural studies from the University of Warsaw, journalism from the Journalism Centre and has completed a documentary course at the Wajda School. Her documentary films include When I Am a Bird, Models and To ty się zmień. Together with Katarzyna Miller, she has written a book How to Be a Woman and Not Go Crazy, translated into several languages. Currently, she is working on her new documentary entitled Radio Łódź 99,2 MHz.

festivals, awards (selection)

Festival Documenta Madrid 2014 – Official Competition Short Length; Media Festival “Man in Danger” 2013 – Special Award of The President of Polish Filmmakers Association Łódź, Poland; International Watch Docs Film Festival, Human Rights in Film 2013, Warsaw; DOK LEIPZIG 2013; Krakow Film Festival 2013 – Polish Film Competition & International Film Competition.