Zaklina is a Polish coming-of-age drama that examines youth, desire, and the fragile threads that bind friendships during turbulent years. The film follows two high school students whose shared passion for filmmaking becomes the foundation of a bond that feels unshakable — until they cross paths with Żaklina, a charismatic older woman who disrupts the stability they believed they had.
The story uses Żaklina less as a romantic figure and more as a catalyst. Her magnetic presence stirs emotions the boys don’t fully understand, prompting them to project their fantasies, insecurities, and unformed identities onto her. The film treats this dynamic with caution, focusing on the internal shifts within the boys rather than the pursuit itself.
As both teens are drawn toward Żaklina, the once-solid friendship begins to fray. What the film captures beautifully is how quickly adolescence can turn collaborative dreams into quiet rivalries. Their filmmaking — once a safe creative sanctuary — becomes entangled with jealousy, misunderstanding, and the painful urge to grow up too fast.
Żaklina herself is portrayed with nuance. She becomes an anchor point around which the boys’ emotional storms swirl, yet she remains grounded, complex, and fully adult in her perspective. The film avoids sensationalism, choosing instead to explore how young people interpret adult charisma through the lens of inexperience and longing.
Visually, Zaklina carries a soft, natural tone that mirrors the vulnerability of its characters. Handheld shots, intimate framing, and muted colors give the narrative a quiet realism, as if viewers are witnessing memories rather than staged scenes. The pacing allows emotional moments to settle, letting the tension play out in small gestures and conversations rather than dramatic confrontations.
