Having returned to a life acceptable to society more than a decade ago and finally deciding never to repeat my previous behavior, as a thank you to society for the support and assistance provided on the difficult path of change, I set a goal – to help my friends dig themselves out of the “dung heap” of fate and spread the message to the public that there are other people living next to us who are often written off in the margins, without even trying to see the reasons for the life they have chosen.
In this documentary film, I will reveal to the audience not only the bad side of the inmates’ lives, but also let them tell me about their dreams, desires, and what is important to them in life. I hope that the sincere stories of inmates will change at least part of society’s attitude towards them and will make them believe that all people can change.
I am the link that allows me to easily move from one group to another. I participate in their lives together with the inmates, I talk, I laugh in the same slang. These are not reportage-type dialogues, because I communicate with them as with close friends.
In this film, the camera takes a subjective position – it moves and participates in the action, but the heroes do not notice it. I establish a close relationship with the characters, gradually introducing the camera into the filming process, so the film’s heroes accept the camera and me as a director-cinematographer as part of their company.
The film is full of emotions, which are especially evident when revealing such themes as relationships, children, and returning to freedom. At the beginning, I introduce the characters’ daily lives, the activities they attend, and their hobbies. Later, I move on to more complex themes, such as freedom, existence, and survival.
For me as a person, one of the main goals of this film is the successful integration of the characters into society. I understand that this step will not work for everyone. I want to see how these people have changed and integrated. I want to help them both – personally and to receive help from other members of society.
I am actively involved in various non-governmental organisations that provide emotional and spiritual support to individuals facing significant life challenges, such as addicts and inmates. With this project, I aim to create a tangible impact on the vulnerable social groups depicted in the film.