"Lachtara. Tęsknota" in Polish cinemas: a film about Greek roots and a road trip in a Polonez

The Polish-Greek co-production "Lachtara. Tęsknota" (roughly "Longing") opened in Polish cinemas on 6 November 2026. It is directed by Sebastian Chondrokostas. The world premiere took place on 17 August 2026.

What the film is about

The main characters are a Greek man and his adult son, who are forced by circumstances to travel together after years of estrangement. They drive an old Polonez from Athens to Wałbrzych. The route follows the path of Greeks fleeing the civil war in 1949. According to the description on Filmweb, the two differ in temperament and language and carry unspoken grievances. They share a common loss, and humour sometimes eases the tension. Contemporary migration forms the backdrop.

The cast includes Filip Pławiak and Branko Đurić. Filming took place in Warsaw, Wałbrzych and Szczawno-Zdrój, and in Greece. The film runs for 2 hours and 7 minutes.

The director's personal story

According to the account of conversations with the filmmakers at the premiere, published by Onet Kultura, the story is personal for the director. He drew on his own Greek roots and a sense of connection to a country he had not felt particularly close to for years. Chondrokostas said the title's longing can refer even to a place one has never known.

Filip Pławiak told Polish Radio Three that the director combined his own experiences with other people's stories. The script persuaded the actor to take part. He described the film as intimate and small in scale, unlike "Biała odwaga", which he had worked on shortly before. In his view, what matters most is the change that takes place between father and son.

Branko Đurić, according to Onet's description, spoke about his own experience of emigration: he fled the war in Sarajevo and built a new life in Slovenia.

What this means for you

The film deals with emigration, roots and longing for a country one does not know from personal experience, so it may interest people living away from their home country. However, the available sources only confirm a release in Polish cinemas. We found no information about screenings in the UK.