The film is a very simple story about a high-school student who becomes a victim of cyberbullying. Jealous of the girl’s attention, the boy posts embarrassing and doctored photos of his rival online. The victim takes revenge. The film ends tragically.
The short film was created while developing scenes that express specific emotions in cinema. The workshop participants began by learning how to portray anxiety, mystery and danger. For this purpose, they chose a forest setting, a masked figure being followed, and blurred, shaky shots. This was the first scene, to which others were added, creating a short story entitled “The Third Principle”.
What is striking about the film is that the young protagonists do not turn to adults with their problems. They deal with matters themselves, among one another, which ends in tragedy in the film. The debuting director explains that the film was primarily a workshop exercise in form.
“I leave the interpretation to the viewers,” says Michał Żak. “We practised by adding successive scenes to one another. That is how the plot came about. However, we wanted the story to be authentic, so it did not include a conversation with a parent or teacher.”
It is also worth adding that research conducted in Bolesławiec schools in February 2010 by the Psychological and Educational Counselling Centre confirms that students do not place much trust in either teachers or parents. They are also increasingly experiencing new forms of public ridicule and humiliation. Young people record themselves on mobile phones in embarrassing and intimate situations (when they are drunk or in erotic situations), then post the films online or forward them to friends’ phones. They send offensive text messages or make insulting, anonymous posts on various internet forums.
The following took part in Michał Żak’s film “The Third Principle”: Eryk Ochendzan (Marek – the victim of violence), Jakub Brzezicki (Adam – the aggressor), Paulina Sudoł (Justyna – the girl both boys were courting), Bartosz Amroziewicz (Ludwik – the boys’ friend).
The film crew and BOK-MCC, the producer, would like to thank the following for their help: Insp. Grzegorzowi Chirowskiemu, chief of the District Police Headquarters in Bolesławiec; the Bolesławiec City Office; BOK-MCC; Cezaremu Czernatowiczowi, head of I Liceum Ogólnokształcące; “Kadr” Film Production Studio; Jazzva restaurant; Katarzynie and Piotrowi Żakom; Małgorzacie and Bogusławowi Kalitom; Jolancie and Krzysztofowi Pańczakom; Oliwerowi Hetelowi and The Side Effect band.
(information: Grażyna Hanaf)