LIFE FOR BEGINNERS

LIFE FOR BEGINNERS

Polish vampire horror-comedy

Monika works in a nursing home, taking only night shifts. She has a good reason for that: she’s a vampire – but one with principles. She only drinks the blood of deceased residents, leads a solitary life, and keeps to herself. Still, Czarek, the grandson of one of the patients – a Warsaw hipster with big plans for the future – keeps trying to get closer to her. Their budding romance is interrupted by Mirek: a moody vampire with suicidal thoughts. Together, Monika and Czarek try to convince him that life is worth living. And even more worth it not to drink the blood of nursing home residents – especially Czarek’s charming grandmother, obsessed with “the secret police.”

“Life for Beginners” is a stylishly written and acted dark comedy, where horror is more symbolic than literal, and the story becomes a charming tale about existence and friendship. The dialogue feels natural, the characters are easy to root for, and watching “Life for Beginners” evokes both “What We Do in the Shadows” and last year’s festival favorite “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person.”

The Polish “Life for Beginners” marks the directorial debut of Paweł Podolski, who assembled a stellar cast. The withdrawn, sarcastic Monika is played by Magdalena Maścianica; Czarek is portrayed by Michał Sikorski (known for his role as Jakub Adamczewski in the hit series “1670”); and the gloomy, death-obsessed Mirek is brought to life by Bartłomiej Kotschedoff. In a small cameo role, one of Poland’s most popular comedians, Antoni Syrek-Dąbrowski, also makes an appearance.

After the screening we invite you to Q&A with:

• Paweł Podolski