Agnieszka Holland Needed Bodyguards After ‘Green Border’ Backlash in Poland: ‘I Knew it Was Possible for Me to Be Physically in Danger’

variety.com:

Marta Balaga Oscar nominee Agnieszka Holland needed bodyguards following the “Green Border” backlash in her native Poland. “I planned to be there during the election, so the Polish Filmmakers Association arranged bodyguards for me.

I was traveling with two, both wonderful and very kind. But it’s quite costly, so I just rearranged my schedule,” she said at Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival, answering Variety’s question during her masterclass. “I think I can be safe now, going back, but of course you never know if some crazy man won’t attack you on the street, believing you are the enemy of the nation.” Criticized by rightwing politicians for her Venice-winning film about the refugee crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border, the acclaimed director decided to “limit her presence” in the country. “It wasn’t just the Minister of Justice [who compared her film to ‘Nazi propaganda’].

It was the president, [Deputy Prime Minister] Mr. Kaczyński and others. It created a hysteria and I knew it was possible for me to be physically in danger.” Ironically enough, such an “over-the-top attack and hate campaign” ended up helping the film they wanted to destroy, she suggested.

So far, it has been seen by over 700,000 viewers. “If it wasn’t for this ‘promotion’ by the government, it would never happen.