BACKWARDS (SUBUK)

In 1980’s Poland, Maryska’s (Malgorzata Gorol) life plans change dramatically when she becomes pregnant. Her sister Marta (Marta Malikowska) offers to help her raise the child, and initially the arrangement works. Unfortunately, circumstances change and Marysia is left raising the young boy by herself. It later becomes apparent that the boy, who can only say one word – Subuk (his name backwards) is autistic – not a condition widely known or accepted in Poland at the time. We follow her over two decades as she clashes with schools, social services and neighbours in her quest to keep him in “normal” school and allow him to take exams, meeting fierce resistance and prejudice at every turn.

Based on a true story, Malgorzata Gorol turns in a moving and good-humoured performance as the feisty Maryskam, whose unstoppable one woman crusade recalls dramas Lorenzo’s Oil and Erin Brockovich.