‘Good Girls’ Director on Life in Girls’ Correctional Center in Poland: ‘It Damages You Even More’ (EXCLUSIVE)

“After six months, I felt like I’d hit a wall. I’ve never had this problem before,” she told Variety.

“It was always very natural for me to gain people’s trust, but my previous films were about boys or men. This one was about teenage girls and even though I’m a woman, I didn’t realize how much shame they carry. I wasn’t prepared for meeting them.”

In her doc, premiering at Ji.hlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival, Winiarska enters a Polish correctional center for girls. Some are escaping abuse. Others end up there for skipping school, drinking or dating. Inside, they’re faced with discipline and constant surveillance.

“I was just another adult in a very strict institution where they had to obey all the rules and regulations. I think they viewed me as an outsider, but also as someone who was part of the system,” she recalled.

“It took me two years before I could start filming. But once they accepted me, we never had any issues. They would tell all the new girls: ‘She’s good. She’s not a snitch.’”

International rights to “Good Girls” are being sold by Stranger Film Sales. Produced by Story, Film i Väst and Tekele Productions, it premieres an exclusive clip here:

Winiarska, who is Polish, currently lives in Sweden. She was shocked to discover a world that hadn’t changed for decades.

“Most of these people mean well. They try to help the girls, but it’s complicated because this system is so outdated. Rather than trying to catch up with the 21st century, the girls are taught how to cook and sew. Religious classes are no longer compulsory, but they were when I was filming.”

Societies may be changing, but the ideas of what constitutes a “good girl” and a “bad girl” are still prevalent.

“In some countries, and that includes Poland, good girls are quiet and obedient. Certain prejudices are very much alive,” she noted.

“We don’t talk to our children about growing up, puberty or sex education. I was lucky to have parents who cared about me. When I got into trouble, they helped me. If I hadn’t had that, I would probably be one of them.”

Most of her young protagonists don’t even fit the center’s profile.

“Most of these girls shouldn’t even be there. This place is meant for the resocialization of people who have committed crimes or are on the edge of doing so. But when you look closer, you see they got there because they were skipping school, got pregnant or used drugs or alcohol.”

Or simply because they suffer from mental health issues their families cannot or do not want to handle.

“One of the girls suffered from depression that wasn’t properly diagnosed. She was lying in bed for three weeks and her mom, who has similar issues, couldn’t help her. Neither did her school. Instead, the police came and handcuffed her in her pyjamas,” said Winiarska.

“That’s the problem: they don’t recognize their actual needs. I got quite close to the people who work there, and they also admitted they are not trained as psychologists. When you’re not well mentally and you’re are locked up and punished for it, it damages you even more.”

She met girls aged between 10 and 18.

“My daughter is 10. It’s scary to think about,” she said. But sometimes the center can provide some safety.

“Many of them come from neglectful backgrounds and have experienced all sorts of abuse. At least over there they have regular meals, they go to school, and if they feel bad, there’s someone to talk to. They didn’t have that at home.”

There’s another issue, though. Their time at the center restricts their freedom in the present, yet fails to prepare them for the future.

“I only started realizing what’s important in life when I was in my 30s. They leave at 18 with a small amount of money. What are they going to do with it? Some party it away or get pregnant over summer breaks. It’s a vicious circle.”

Winiarska adds: “These girls are strong. They’re funny. But at that age, you don’t understand the world and the world doesn’t understand you. If, on top of that, you come from a disadvantaged family, it’s easy to sink into a big black hole.”

“If this film could change something in our society, it would be so wonderful.”