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Description:
Polish director Maciej Pieprzyca, known mainly for his documentary work, deftly weaves together in his narrative feature debut the seemingly unrelated storylines of Robert, Marta, and Bartek. Taking place over the span of a few days, this drama is divided into three different parts to orient us to the main characters: Part I “Match,” introduces us to Robert, a soccer hooligan and neighborhood know it all. In Part II, “Veil,” we encounter Marta, the spoiled, beautiful daughter of a wealthy businessman, and discover why she is running down the street in her wedding dress. Splinters concludes with “Mirage,” in which Bartek, a recent university graduate, learns he has won a fellowship to study in Boston.
Each character has his or her own troubles and flaws, yet they all cross paths on the way toward redemption. Ultimately, it’s the universal pursuit of love, connection, and acceptance that binds the three. Often with humor (keep your eye out for the Elvis impersonator), Pieprzyca makes of his splinters a cohesive and solid whole. Through his characters’ interactions, hope emerges against the backdrop of an industrial city full of poverty, racism, and violence.
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