Go Home Polish

SYNOPSIS

Confused by graffiti scribbled on a Welsh backstreet demanding ‘Go Home Polish’, a photographer embarks on a thousand mile walk back to his birthplace in search of home.

Genre: Documentary

Directors statement: ‘My friend Michal was upset and angry and was suffering from the rising xenophobia in the UK after the crucial BREXIT referendum. It was hitting him on a deeply personal level. His act of walking back the place of his birth both a journey of self discovery and quiet protest.

As a film maker I felt this was an ideal opportunity to explore ideas of home and identity and take a personal journey with him to explore my own struggles with the idea of home and nationhood.’

Ian Smith is a filmmaker based in Cardiff, Wales. Born in Lancashire he moved to Wales to study film at Newport Film School, where he was influenced by renowned documentary filmmaker John Grierson, the school’s Patron. Ian went on to become a producer and director at BBC Wales where he produced a variety of formats, films and documentaries including Wales and Hollywood, How The Co-op Started, Homelessness: On the Edge. Ian also worked on drama formats including Doctor Who, War of the Worlds, Mistresses amongst many others. He continues to work for the BBC as a freelancer on current affairs, factual and music output. He also produces films through his company Auntie Margaret.

Location, Cast, Crew, Funding and story.
Music: Gwenno and W H Dyfodol.
Director:Ian Smith (credits include, BBC Wales’ Wales Investigates, Cardiff Singer of the World and many more).
Cast: the subject of the documentary, Michal Iwanowski is based in Cardiff.

Length: 20 mins
Language: English / Polish
Format: DCP, MOV or MP4
Cert: U

Date: October 2019

Reviews: Lens Culture,  The Guardian.