Iga Lis: The Queen and the Smokehouse
Miecia is the “Queen of Łeba”, a seaside resort at the Baltic Sea, the Sea, so well known for a Dane, who has tasted lots of smoked fish on the Island of Bornholm. Miecia has had her smokehouse for 40 years and it is quite a popular place near the beach with a neighbouring amusement place that offers carousels and swings. Everybody knows Miecia, who is a nice old lady and a grandma and a warm caring boss towards the young people, who help her in her stall, selling and smoking the fish. A boss who wants people to keep their promises, which is difficult if alcohol is involved. She gives advice on how to live life, wonderful.
As you can interpret from the poster above working with smoke has its consequences. Combined with the cigarettes Miecia lights constantly. She has trouble breathing and good for her she gets a spa trip; it seems she likes it, but still she is on the phone to her employees to check how is everything in the smokehouse. She is welcomed back and she says that now her team will take over and “I will sit on the bench”.
The film is beautifully shot, the editing is focused on bringing out the personality of Miecia, it works, to have her – sometimes pretty direct – humour mixed with the recording of what a traditional smokehouse is and of course you wonder if that can go on, when Miecia and her commitment is no longer there?
The director is from 2000, this is her first feature documentary, more than well done, opening film at Krakow FF last year and in competition at the recent Fipadoc. And pitched at Baltic Sea Docs in 2024.
Poland, 2025, 66 mins.
❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
