United States of Love (2016)

In the ecstatic dawn of the 1990s, post-Communist Poland revels in newfound freedom. Yet, in this era of elation and uncertainty, four women, seemingly content, find themselves on the precipice of despair, grappling with their own unfulfilled desires. Agata, a young mother shackled by an unfulfilling marriage, is tormented by an overpowering infatuation for a man beyond her reach. Parallelly, the austere school principal, Iza, is locked in a struggle against rejection, her heart heavy with unspoken emotions. Her sister, Marzena, once crowned a beauty queen and now an aerobic instructor, bears the weight of her husband's prolonged absence, her loneliness echoing in the silent halls of her home. Meanwhile, Renata, a solitary middle-aged language teacher, finds ephemeral comfort in the melodic chirping of her birds and in her silent yearning for her elusive next-door neighbour. As the wave of change sweeps across Poland, these four women, each in pursuit of a passionate yet elusive love, find their lives intertwined in an intricate tapestry of unrequited affection and bitter obsessions. Their stories pose a poignant question: Does the pain of unfulfilled love transcend boundaries, even to the United States of Love? This is a tale of their journey, a reflection of the human quest for love and acceptance, set against the backdrop of a country teetering on the cusp of transformation.

United States of Love is a drama movie featuring Julia Kijowska and directed by Tomasz Wasilewski.

United States of Love is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.