Mug is a Polish film directed by Malgorzata Szumowska, which was released in 2018. The movie tells the story of Jacek (played by Mateusz Kosciukiewicz), a young man who lives in a small town on the border between Poland and Germany.
Jacek is a rebel who loves heavy metal and his dog, and who finds joy in racing down country lanes in his little car. He works on a construction site, where he helps to build the world's largest statue of Jesus, which towers over the surrounding landscape. Jacek's life takes a tragic turn when he is involved in a horrific accident at work, which leaves him completely disfigured.
After months of recovery, Jacek becomes the first person in Poland to receive a face transplant, which transforms his appearance but also leaves him feeling alienated from his own body. As he struggles to come to terms with his new identity, Jacek finds himself caught up in a media frenzy, with everyone around him seeing him as a brave hero and martyr.
Through Jacek's story, the film explores themes of identity, faith, and national pride, as well as the tension between tradition and modernity in contemporary Poland. The towering statue of Jesus serves as a visual metaphor for these themes, casting a shadow over Jacek's personal struggles and the social issues that surround him.
Mug is a thought-provoking and visually striking film that offers a fresh perspective on contemporary Polish cinema. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2018 and was nominated for numerous other awards.
