Premiere - 'Come Home' - a documentary film by Marta Stysiak

About

Exploring core themes of young motherhood and the mother-daughter relationship, ‘Come Home’ is the story of a young Polish mother. The film follows 16-year-old Victoria’s journey into motherhood, documenting her turbulent relationship with her own mother and her experiences as her infant son is removed to foster care and she is unable to visit him.

What happens to a mother who is deprived of her motherhood? Set against the background of the Polish juvenile re-socialisation programme, 'Come Home' engages with significant and urgent discussions around maternal mental health, universal access to childcare and social support, adoption practice and birth control.

The film's narrative is accompanied by Victoria's music and songs, in which the girl skillfully translates her feelings and action into the language of rap. Her lyrics carry a huge emotional load and allow us to get to know her, and her story better.

Marta Stysiak (b. 1982) is a Polish cinematographer based in Warsaw. She is the author of photography for documentaries, short features, video art and experimental videos. Come Home is her feature-length debut. It is developed from Stysiak's 2020 video installation, Badland, which won the Birth Rites Collection Biennial Competition for New Works. 

After the film screening, Marta Stysiak will be joined for a Q & A session with Dr Elsa Montgomery from King's College, London and Professor Jonathan Montgomery from University College London.