September 10, 2026
FILM: WHAT BELONGS TO OTHERS
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: GRZEGORZ DEBOWSKI
STARRING: MONIKA SABINA KWIATKOWSKA, ROBERT MANIA, EWA PAJAK
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Writer/Director Grzegorz Debowski’s first scene in the remarkable Polish film What Belongs to Others (Polish Title: Cudze Rzeczy) brings viewers right into the dilemma for Kitty (Kasia in Polish.) She’s being interrogated by her apartment landlords because she’s not paid her rent and they believe she’s damaging the place. We feel for her as the couple is noticeably cold and unforgiving. They give her a week to pay off her debt. Soon she and her boyfriend are returning to a life of crime that they have seemingly engaged in for a while: they steal from open apartments in Warsaw. After he is wanted for his crimes and she is left out on the street, Kitty reaches a low point when she discovers a dead body in one of the apartments.
It’s one of the first of many interesting things about Debowski’s narrative because, in part, of how early this low point arrives. In classical Hollywood, this would be the climax after a long road of pain and despair. However, Kitty has already gone through all of that. There is some hope for her as she discovers that none of the dead man’s neighbors knew him and, claiming to be his girlfriend, she decides to quietly move into his pad. It is he more than she that we get to know as a character throughout the film. Kitty, who generally walks around looking miserable, goes through his belongings and begins to find his books, drawings, and a life insurance policy. All of this leads to a slowly but effectively revealed path for Kitty to create a new identity for herself.
I wouldn’t want to reveal much more of the plot but the direction Kitty takes is pretty amazing to watch. There are run-ins with his various family members who have had their own fractured relationships with Piotr, the dead man, and an evolution to Kitty as her look alters becoming increasingly more sophisticated and convincing. The thing is, we don’t really know what is going on inside her head. Kitty doesn’t reveal much so all we have to go on are her actions. These all lead to surprising connections she makes with Piotr’s family.
As a viewing experience, at times it is unclear who she is claiming to be to worm herself into their world. Perhaps she doesn’t really know. She seems to be a perpetual liar, only looking out for herself. But this family has many needs, due in part to a matriarch with dementia and whatever heartaches Piotr may have inflicted on the rest of them. Memories and needs become intertwined and ultimately ask the question, is it okay to lie and distort perceptions if it helps others?
The performances throughout the film are stellar, lead firstly by Monika Sabina Kwiatkowska and her very controlled work as Kitty. The shifts in Kitty are so subtle that it isn’t until much later that we sense how she has evolved as a character. One could say that Kitty is always playing roles (as a good tenant, cleaning lady, girlfriend, etc.) that maybe she’s just continuing to do what she’s always done. But Kwiatkowska tells us something more than that. Kitty’s movements and expressions become increasingly convincing and we believe she does have a heart and is capable of showing concern for others. She may even belong to this family. It’s a brilliant transition.
The film is an excellent look at broken families, loss, changing identities, and what we convince ourselves of to make us feel better.
What Belongs to Others is having its world premiere this week at the Venice International Film Festival.
FILM: WHAT BELONGS TO OTHERS
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: GRZEGORZ DEBOWSKI
STARRING: MONIKA SABINA KWIATKOWSKA, ROBERT MANIA, EWA PAJAK
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Writer/Director Grzegorz Debowski’s first scene in the remarkable Polish film What Belongs to Others (Polish Title: Cudze Rzeczy) brings viewers right into the dilemma for Kitty (Kasia in Polish.) She’s being interrogated by her apartment landlords because she’s not paid her rent and they believe she’s damaging the place. We feel for her as the couple is noticeably cold and unforgiving. They give her a week to pay off her debt. Soon she and her boyfriend are returning to a life of crime that they have seemingly engaged in for a while: they steal from open apartments in Warsaw. After he is wanted for his crimes and she is left out on the street, Kitty reaches a low point when she discovers a dead body in one of the apartments.
It’s one of the first of many interesting things about Debowski’s narrative because, in part, of how early this low point arrives. In classical Hollywood, this would be the climax after a long road of pain and despair. However, Kitty has already gone through all of that. There is some hope for her as she discovers that none of the dead man’s neighbors knew him and, claiming to be his girlfriend, she decides to quietly move into his pad. It is he more than she that we get to know as a character throughout the film. Kitty, who generally walks around looking miserable, goes through his belongings and begins to find his books, drawings, and a life insurance policy. All of this leads to a slowly but effectively revealed path for Kitty to create a new identity for herself.
I wouldn’t want to reveal much more of the plot but the direction Kitty takes is pretty amazing to watch. There are run-ins with his various family members who have had their own fractured relationships with Piotr, the dead man, and an evolution to Kitty as her look alters becoming increasingly more sophisticated and convincing. The thing is, we don’t really know what is going on inside her head. Kitty doesn’t reveal much so all we have to go on are her actions. These all lead to surprising connections she makes with Piotr’s family.
As a viewing experience, at times it is unclear who she is claiming to be to worm herself into their world. Perhaps she doesn’t really know. She seems to be a perpetual liar, only looking out for herself. But this family has many needs, due in part to a matriarch with dementia and whatever heartaches Piotr may have inflicted on the rest of them. Memories and needs become intertwined and ultimately ask the question, is it okay to lie and distort perceptions if it helps others?
The performances throughout the film are stellar, lead firstly by Monika Sabina Kwiatkowska and her very controlled work as Kitty. The shifts in Kitty are so subtle that it isn’t until much later that we sense how she has evolved as a character. One could say that Kitty is always playing roles (as a good tenant, cleaning lady, girlfriend, etc.) that maybe she’s just continuing to do what she’s always done. But Kwiatkowska tells us something more than that. Kitty’s movements and expressions become increasingly convincing and we believe she does have a heart and is capable of showing concern for others. She may even belong to this family. It’s a brilliant transition.
The film is an excellent look at broken families, loss, changing identities, and what we convince ourselves of to make us feel better.
What Belongs to Others is having its world premiere this week at the Venice International Film Festival.