A story about szeptuchy and szeptuni (whisperers), practitioners of folk medicine who carry on the tradition of healing incantations passed down through generations in Podlasie region. It’s a tale of folk ilnesses, healing, magic, and witchcraft, but most of all, of human desires and expectations. In the film, we ask questions that experts, anthropologists, ethnographers, psychotherapists, and the people of Podlasie seek to answer. Who exactly are these szeptuchy and szeptuni? Why, in today’s modern world, do we still turn to the methods and remedies for body and soul once used by our grandparents? How does contemporary psychology view these healing incantations from Podlasie?
Malgorzata Szyszka
A theatre and film director, screenwriter, and playwright, she is a graduate of the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw. She has received scholarships from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Polish Film Institute, the City of Warsaw, and the Creative Arts Promotion Fund. She has directed several theatre productions, such as Twice Two based on Dostoevsky. Beyond theatre, she also creates documentary films, including Following Jerzy Grotowski’s Path in Mexico: Amecameca and Don’t Stop… (featured at the Artes.Docs festival in Mexico). Additionally, she leads theatre workshops for children, youth, and adults.