Two budding artists, Maria and Patryk, embark on their maiden serious relationship, a voyage fraught with raw emotion and an intensity that transcends the physical realm. Yet, they grapple to find a common language that fosters a genuine connection. "Tell Me What You Feel," the latest feature from Polish director and curator at the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, Łukasz Ronduda (Heart of Love, All Our Fears, Rave), will premiere in the Big Screen Competition of the 55th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) on Jan. 31. He penned the screenplay alongside Agata K. Koschmieder.
As with his previous narrative films, "Tell Me What You Feel" centers around artists. In this instance, they are Maria and Patryk, portrayed by Izabella Dudziak and Jan Sałasiński, respectively. Patryk struggles to sell his paintings, while Maria, hailing from a well-off background, created Tear Dealer, an art project that allows impoverished individuals to trade their tears, collected in vials, for money. Through these two protagonists, Ronduda weaves a tale of the struggles and aspirations of a generation yearning to be distinct from their predecessors and indeed making a difference. Loosely based on the experiences of real-life young Polish artist Patryk Różycki and a female artist, the film delves into the nuances of modern love and relationships, including our era's concept of "vulnerable masculinity," as the filmmaker explains to The Hollywood Reporter (THR).
"Patryk and Maria are based on real-life individuals, and the Tear Dealer project is authentic," Ronduda shares. "However, the film is a synthesis. I create fiction films, so 'Tell Me What You Feel' is a synthesis – creative fiction inspired by genuine experiences."
Produced by Natalia Grzegorzek at Koskino, in collaboration with Documentary and Feature Film Studios (WFDiF), Silesia Film, EC1-Łódź, and Fixafilm, "Tell Me What You Feel" was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.
"My film portrays contemporary young Poles who, by being acutely aware of their emotions and mental health, are catalyzing significant social change," notes a statement from the director. "However, their over-reliance on therapy significantly impacts the way they navigate relationships. I sought to delve deeper into this modern love characterized by psychological awareness on one hand and confusion on the other."
Concluding his thoughts, the filmmaker states: "I am also intrigued by how this focus on emotions creates an illusion of erasing social and economic barriers between lovers. Furthermore, the film explores the concept of a new 'vulnerable' masculinity open to emotions, tears, and feelings."
THR can now exclusively reveal the film's first trailer, which teases the awkwardness of love and sex that resonates deeply with Polish audiences and beyond.
