King Matt the First, the new documentary from Polish director Jaśmina Wójcik (Symphony of the Ursus Factory), will get its world premiere in the International Spectrum Competition at the 32nd annual Hot Docs Canadian Documentary Festival, taking place April 24-May 4. The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively present the first trailer for the film about two sisters with a strong bond that is inspired by the novel of the same name by Janusz Korczak, also known under his pen name Henryk Goldszmit.
“The world of sisters Zoja and Lea is filled with shared games, discoveries, and conversations, alongside their daily squabbles and disagreements. Initially, the girls, who bear a striking resemblance to one another, seem to share an extraordinary bond of sisterhood,” a synopsis on the film notes. “However, as time passes, the older sister, Zoja, begins to grow apart from Lea. She loses interest in playing in the sand or swimming in the river, retreating into the realm of books and spending increasingly more time with her peers instead of her sister. Despite their differences, both girls share a deep-seated fear of crossing the threshold into adulthood, which they perceive as a source of danger. They observe how adults seem indifferent to the destruction of their world, ignoring environmental catastrophes and fueling war conflicts.”
In Korczak’s novel, a 10-year-old ruler has bold theories for reforming the state but fails in everyday practice. Similarly, the doc invites audiences “into a realm unbound by adult hierarchies and constraints,” with young people “standing on the brink of adulthood,” according to notes about the movie.
“This film represents the culmination of my search as a mother, artist, director, educator, and human being,” says Wójcik. “It is a personal voice advocating for the preservation of childhood, recognizing the essence of humanity in children, trusting them, and following their openness and needs — while also maintaining the nurturing framework and safety of the process, a responsibility that rests with the adults.”
Korczak wrote his novel between the two World Wars. The film was similarly made during a period of conflict and crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
“The film serves as a plea for a sensitivity revolution, one that learns from kids and reconnects us with our inner child,” concludes Wójcik.
King Matt the First was produced by Marta Dużbabel and Agnieszka Rostropowicz for Poland’s Pinot Films, with co-producers FixaFilm, the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Wójcik and Jakub Wróblewski. It was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
The exclusive trailer provides a feel for the visuals and emotions that await audiences. “When I grow up, will I remember what it’s like to be a child?” asks one of the sisters. Watch the trailer for King Matt the First below.
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