The Newbie

A lonely 17 –year-old Ania (the Newbie) is seeking acceptance in a group of peers playing risky urban games. She pays for her strivings with a loss of faith in values. With nothing to lose, Ania invents a daredevil game, supposed to provoke the group and especially its leader-Czarny, to think. The surprising end of the film gives a new chance to return to normality for its characters. The film is based on the short story 'Moc słowa' [The Power of Word] by Anna Czajka and corresponds to the second Commandment: 'You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain'.

Directed by Tomasz Olejarczyk, The Newbie leans on a strong ensemble — Justyna Wasilewska, Marcin Korcz, Dorota Chotecka — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2010.