Tomorrow Will Be Better (Jutro będzie lepiej)

“This is a stunningly lovely, poetic film with a deep empathy for its characters, full of moments that will take your breath away.” (Charlie Cockey, Cinequest 21)

Three homeless boys, brothers Petya and Vasya (performed by brothers Oleg, 6 years old, and Evgeny Riba, 10 years old, from Ukraine) and their friend Liapa (Akhmed Sardalov), decide to escape from Russia to Poland. The film illustrates their journey to the border and its crossing, as well as the circumstances they find themselves in upon reaching the promised land. The children believe they will have a better life in Poland and that they will return to their homeland as kings. Unfortunately, the truth is similar to that of all too many immigrants who, instead of paradise, experience a harsh down-to-earth fall and deportation to their fatherlands. The border between the old world and the new one to which they attempt to immigrate, is of iron, although they have dreamt of it as being a soft transition from the real world to the wonderland. Nonetheless, in addition to being a depiction of hungry and desperate children who want a better life, their journey is also a genuine children’s adventure worthy of Huckleberry Finn, full of humour, playfulness and beauty.

“They say that this story really happened. I don’t know whether there were two boys or three. I don’t know if they were brothers. I don’t know whether they were fleeing for the first time or had tried it before. I don’t know what happened to them along the way. All I know is that they wanted to change something about their lives. I know that there are good people and bad people everywhere, and that coincidence often has a key impact on our lives. I know that many of us hope that somewhere out there is a place that is different, better, and more beautiful. Wherever that might be… I also know that as long as we have dreams, as long as we have faith, and as long as we keep hoping for the impossible, we find meaning in everything that surrounds us; we manage to lift ourselves above the ground just a little and rise above all that is ordinary, miserable, and sometimes just plain boring. ” (Dorota Kędzierzawska, Director)

Written and Directed by: Dorota Kędzierzawska; Director of Photography, Production: Arthur Reinhart p.s.c.;  Editing: Dorota Kędzierzawska, Arthur Reinhart; Music: Arkady Severny; Produced by: Kid Film; Main cast: Oleg Ryba (Petya), Evgeny Ryba (Vasya), Akhmed Sardalov (Liapa).

Language: Russian with English and Slovene subtitles, colour.

Organisation: Kinodvor; In collaboration with: City of Women.