Documentary
2025 Poland
10 minutes
Language: Polish
Subtitles: English
Director: Joanna Obiegałka
The film titled “Joanna” tells a deeply personal and moving story about a mental health crisis, the search for meaning, the recovery process, and the power of dreams.
Summary
A poignant exploration of vulnerability and resilience, Joanna follows one woman’s journey through a profound mental health crisis.
Stripped of certainty, the protagonist finds herself at a crossroads where the familiar structures of daily life begin to dissolve, forcing a difficult confrontation with vulnerability, fear, and isolation. The process is also reflected in the plan to sail from Poland to Helsinki and attend an important conference. The sailing trip is cancelled, but the woman travels to the conference anyway.
The film traces the nuanced and non-linear process of healing. Through quiet moments of reflection, tentative steps toward connection, and an evolving inner landscape, Joanna gradually reclaims her voice and sense of agency. Central to her journey is the quiet persistence of dreams—both as an artistic refuge and an emotional anchor.
Joanna is a compassionate meditation on mental health, resilience, and the fragile beauty of finding one’s way back to oneself.