I cannot remember the last time (or perhaps ever?) I felt so emotional before going to the cinema as I did in the case of Wojciech Smarzowski’s film „Dom dobry” („A Good Home”). On the one hand, I was afraid that I would see domestic violence so real that the images would stay in my head for a long time. On the other hand, I was curious as to why this film, which premiered at the last Gdynia Film Festival (22-27 September 2025), did not receive any awards from the festival jury.
But despite my fear, I wanted to see this film. I was curious to see how Smarzowski would approach such a difficult topic as domestic violence in a so-called good home, where, from the outside, everything seems to be going great.
The story begins like many love stories. She and he. Gosia (in this role Agata Turkot @agata_t) and Grzegorz (created by Tomasz Schuchardt @tomaszschuchardt). They didn’t bump into each other on the street or in a shop, but found each other on a dating app. A love story in the 21st century. He didn’t hit on her with cheap lines, telling her how beautiful or special she was. He showed her that they had a lot in common, a lot to talk about. They sent each other quotes from literature, and the other person had to guess the author. Let’s face it – intellectual conversations on dates are not that common these days. The very fact that someone doesn’t just talk about themselves, but sometimes casually asks, „What about you?” can be considered unique (unfortunately). And here, someone reads, is interested in the world… It’s easy to fall in love and then turn a blind eye to the „red flags” – isolated comments that hurt right in the heart, but since they are sporadic, maybe it’s just a coincidence, they have just slipped from the mouth?
I have just revealed to you how the film „Dom dobry” („A Good Home”). Neither we, the viewers, nor the main character receive any blows for the first 30 minutes of the film (or maybe even longer?), at least not from Grzegorz. Then everything changes. But not suddenly. It’s as if the abuser (let’s call it what it is) checks every now and then how far he can go and then pushes the boundaries the next time.
In my opinion, Wojciech Smarzowski approached the subject of domestic violence „with white gloves” that is, what happens within four walls, very insightfully. Grzegorz in the film acts as if according to a pre-arranged, intricate plan, like a thief planning the heist of the century. He knows which points to hit in order to effectively destroy Gosia’s self-esteem, and then, convincing her of his unchanging love, destroy her piece by piece. The film contains many drastic scenes, but if Smarzowski wanted to create a true picture of the tragedy of many victims of domestic violence, he could not have done it any other way. Otherwise, the victims might feel cheated if everything happened in the other room, the viewer would only hear the sounds of an argument, and then see bruises on the face.
I would like to believe that the police’s reactions (or perhaps more accurately, lack of reactions) shown in the film are an unfortunate exception, but the testimonies of many victims of domestic violence make it clear: this is the rule. So it’s one person’s word against another’s. And if the word of a person in uniform is more alligned with the word of an influential and widely respected person, the victim is at at lost position.
I am no longer as naive as I used to be when, after watching the film „Kler” („Clergy”), also directed by Wojciech Smarzowski, I believed that there would be a breakthrough in society when it comes to the harm caused by clergy. But despite everything, I do hope that „Dom dobry” („A Good Home”) will bring some good and change. It will transform the fear and shame of victims into the courage to seek help. This film has already sparked a lot of discussion, prompting girls and women to talk about what they saw on screen or why they will never watch this film (because they themselves were its protagonists).
It often happens that we do not accept the partners, boyfriends or husbands of people close to us for various, often subjective reasons. This can even lead to a breakdown in relations. It is great if our intuition was wrong, but it is worse when we were right and someone close to us becomes a victim of domestic violence. But they don’t tell us about it because they are ashamed or simply don’t want to hear, „Haven’t I told you?”. Perhaps „Dom dobry” („A Good Home”) is also a good opportunity to tell our daughters, friends, colleagues and sisters: „Remember that even though we differ, if you need help, I am here for you.” One sentence can change a lot. It can even save someone’s life.
Finally, I would like to return to this year’s 50th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. Wojciech Smarzowski’s „Dom dobry” („A Good Home”) did not receive any award. Of course, the jury’s decisions are subjective, because jurors, like all of us, have their own tastes and preferences. I agree that the themes of the films were so different that it was sometimes difficult to judge, for example, which actor was better suited to the role of the main character (but that’s a topic for a separate article).
However, it is difficult not to mention the brilliant performances of Agata Turkot (Gosia) and Tomasz Schuchardt (Grzegorz in the film). I think these roles can be described as a social mission, because no one would think that they took on roles in Smarzowski’s film (in a film like this!) for fame or remuneration. These are extremely emotionally difficult roles for the viewer, let alone the actors. Agata Turkot plays the role of Gosia so convincingly that you want to step into the film frame and take her away from that „good home”. Tomasz Schuchardt did a great job of showing the two sides of Grzegorz’s torturer, and I am convinced that such a role is demanding even for the best actor. So I am surprised that this film was not only underrated in Gdynia from a „technical” perspective (i.e. all the „statue” categories and awards for directing, screenplay, acting, etc.), but that it missed a perfect opportunity to emphasise that domestic violence is a problem that we must fight on many levels. It’s a shame.
There is also a discussion that teenagers should not watch this film because it is too violent, etc. I suggest applying similar criteria as for horror films. Because what „Dom dobry” („A Good Home”) talks about is nothing more than an everyday horror for many people.