Battle Over Venice Film ‘Green Border’ Heats Up as Director Agnieszka Holland Threatens Legal Action Against Poland’s Justice Minister (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Marta Balaga Controversy over Venice title “Green Border” continues to heat up as director Agnieszka Holland gave an ultimatum to Poland’s Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro following his comments about her film.

According to the statement shared with Variety, Holland has hired the lawyers Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram and Michał Wawrynkiewicz.

She is demanding a public apology and payment to The Association of Children of the Holocaust in Poland, arguing Ziobro’s words have “violated her personal rights.” Ziobro has seven days to fulfill the obligation outlined in the document, otherwise the filmmaker “will take legal action.” “People who are afraid, as the Minister of Justice knows very well, are much easier to govern,” she stated.

Right-wing political figures have been taking to social media to criticize Holland, including Krystyna Pawłowicz who called the film “mindless, fake, irresponsible and disgraceful,” as well as accusing the director of “slandering families” and being “sick with hatred for Poland.” While such reactions came as no surprise to Polish journalists gathered in Venice, Ziobro’s statement ruffled many feathers indeed. “It’s shocking that a Polish minister would insult a Polish director in such a disgusting way at the moment of her film’s success,” said Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, reporting for Gazeta Wyborcza.