“Life is never black and white – it’s a kaleidoscope”: Agnieszka Grochowska on Brother at Kinoteka Film Festival 2026

Screening at this year’s Kinoteka Polish Film Festival in London, Brother (Brat), directed by Maciej Sobieszczański, is a gritty yet deeply moving portrait of life on the margins of a working-class community. Drawing in part on the director’s own mother, as well as an image of a young boy speaking to his father through prison walls, the film blends personal memory with an unflinching look at family life under pressure.

At its centre is 14-year-old Dawid, who is forced to grow up quickly as he tries to protect his younger brother while navigating the absence of his father and the volatility of life at home. His mother, meanwhile, is struggling in her own way, with moments of anger and violence that aren’t easy to watch. It’s a lot for one family to carry, but amidst the hardship, there are glimmers of hope – particularly with the arrival of a judo coach who offers a sense of direction and possibility.

At the heart of the film is Agnieszka Grochowska, who delivers a fiercely layered portrayal of motherhood that refuses rose-tinted clichés in favour of something far more raw and clear-eyed. Her character can be harsh, even cold at times, yet she is also deeply compassionate, driven by love and an underlying resilience as she tries to move her family beyond survival mode.

When we sat down with Grochowska at the festival, she spoke about embracing these contradictions, getting under the skin of a character inspired by the director’s own mother, and working alongside the film’s remarkable young cast. We also discussed how Brother ultimately challenges the idea of women as victims, instead presenting a woman who, despite everything thrown at her, endures with strength, leaving a quiet but powerful sense of hope.

Sarah Bradbury

Brother screened at Kinoteka Polish Film Festival 2026.

Watch the trailer for Brother here: