Coming Out Polish Style

What's it like to be a member of the LGBT community in today's Poland? Although no official figures exist, co-directors Slawomir Grünberg and Katka Reszke's documentary estimates that as many as two million homosexuals currently live in Poland. The capital of Warsaw seems to be the most welcoming city, with gay pride parades and demonstrations occurring without incident (if other Polish locales host similar events, they're not cited here). Coming Out Polish Style focuses on LGBT Poles involved in the arts and media, since people outside those fields face difficulties in being open about their sexuality (indeed, there is no Polish expression for “coming out,” so Poles use the English-language phrase instead). A few street-theater opponents to gay rights are seen, but the film suggests that the average citizen is unimpressed with their rhetoric. And while there's talk of homophobia, very few cases of actual harassment or violence are discussed (an arrest of two men hugging on a Warsaw subway platform is followed by a demonstration of same-sex couples showing open affection at the same site). One young gay Jewish man complains about not being able to find a soul-mate of his faith, but the influence of the Catholic Church in shaping national values is mostly ignored. More of a snapshot than an in-depth portrait, this is nevertheless a strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)