Film reviews

TELL ME WHAT YOU FEEL by Filip Etmishovski

by Filip Etmishovski

The Polish film Tell Me What You Feel (Powiedz mi, co czujesz), directed and co-written by Łukasz Ronduda, follows artist Patryk (Jan Sałasiński), who is having a hard time selling his paintings. He discovers a potential route out of his predicament via "Tear Dealer," a unique art-project which involves people trading their tears for cash. While he proves unable to cry on demand, he does meet Maria (Izabella Dudziak), the project’s conceiver. As romance blossoms, they swap their traumas and their art, discovering they have much in common...

The two main actors prove excellent casting choices, creating a natural chemistry that makes their relationship completely believable. Dudziak delivers an exceptionally mature and subtle performance, building a character who constantly balances between inner strength and emotional vulnerability. Sałasiński meanwhile convincingly captures the character of a rebellious young man who hides deep trauma and repressed emotions behind his impulsive veneer. The pair's interaction is one of the film's strongest assets, bringing authenticity and emotional weight to their every shared scene.

Although Patryk's deceased twin sister is never seen, she becomes one of the main figures in the story. In addition to frequent verbal mentions, her memory is constantly evoked through the symbolic motif of a dress hanging in Patryk's yard, accompanied by a lit memorial candle. This visual element creates the impression that the character is somehow part of the film's world; her absence is a constant presence.

Marcin Lenarczyk's music skillfully moves between minimalist ambient motifs and occasional indie-rock explosions, the latter emphasizing the protagonists' emotional turbulence. The contrast of locations between the quiet provincial countryside and the grey remains of socialist-era urban architecture meanwhile contributes to the general feeling of loneliness, despair and trauma that runs through Tell Me What You Feel — resulting in an impressive work that is both intimate and universal.