film & book club

February 13, 2026

Great cinema — and a personal triumph for Timothée Chalamet. Marty Supreme review

Critics and audiences seem to agree on one central point: the film ultimately belongs to its lead actor. Chalamet delivered the movie’s strongest and most compelling element, anchoring the entire narrative in a character deeply manipulative, morally questionable, and yet strangely magnetic.

Tomasz Morek and Antoni Popczyński, both 16, review a film that cements Chalamet’s super-star status

February 10, 2026

A TikTok thriller that traded tension for trends. The Housemaid review

Interestingly, the first half of the film is worth seeing. Fast-paced action fits the plot, keeps the viewer engaged, and some moments are truly shocking. Each character develops and gradually reveals their true nature – and then it all goes downhill.

Maja Dobrosielska, 17, and Sonia Rybus, 16, say Sweeney’s acting is not as great as her jeans

February 09, 2026

‘When people lose the right to security, you open the way to fascism,’ says Agnieszka Holland

Last year, Holland released Franz, a film about the life of the Czech-Jewish writer Franz Kafka (1883–1924), the author of classics such as The Trial (1925) and The Castle (1926) - works that survived only because the writer’s friend refused to carry out Kafka’s final request to destroy all his writings.

Klara Hammudeh and Mikołaj Tran, both 17, and Kaja Majewska, 16, interview a three-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker

February 09, 2026

Hamnet is more than a film. It is a masterpiece

When William and his wife Agnes lose their beloved son Hamnet, each of them grieves over him in a different way. This sets them apart, and their up -until-then perfect marriage goes through a deep crisis. Only when Agnes sees the tragedy written by William, she understands how he feels.

Barbara Karsznia, 17, and Karolina Orfinger, 16, argue that Chloé Zhao’s picture should be this year’s rainmaker

February 03, 2026

Great visuals, some amazing writing, but felt calculated. Stranger Things finale review

It was the fans who best expressed their disappointment with the final episode. Immediately after the end, large swathes of the internet began discussing a conspiracy theory known as "Conformity Gate," according to which Netflix has a secret, additional finale in store. At one stage, fans storming the website in search of the "true" finale even managed to crash Netflix.

17 year-old Klara Hammudeh reviews the last episode of Netflix’s saga

January 20, 2026

Written with bodily fluids, Szalay’s novel deserved the Booker Prize. Flesh review

Genuinely, there is probably no book on this planet that has more „it’s okay” than Flesh. At the same time, it might be the most emotionally draining or uncomfortable novel you can come across.

Alicja Melaniuk, 17, and Karolina Orfinger, 16, review the prize-winning novel

January 14, 2026

Dark and violent season ends Stranger Things’ decade of cultural influence

For over a month, Netflix dominated streaming and social media, capturing the attention of people precisely when they were sitting at home and looking for things to watch. Various theories from fans fuelled the excitement for weeks, making the release of the final episode a huge event.

Pola Gudowicz, 17, and Sonia Rybus, 16, analyse the last season of Netflix’s hit show

January 10, 2026

An underwhelming end to the decade’s most compelling series. Stranger Things 5 ep. 1-7 review

Despite great acting and overall production proficiency, the fifth season’s first seven episodes suffer from a broader pacing issue when viewed as a complete unit − it feels like the narrative is deliberately held back.

16-year-old Antek Popczyński reviews seven episodes leading up to the long-awaited finale

January 09, 2026

Classic saga turns into a call for awakening. Avatar: Fire and Ash review

The first Avatar premiered in 2009 and ignited cinema screens because it made audiences feel as though they were being transported into a different dimension. Pandora glowed with vibrant, breathtaking colours, and its creatures felt entirely new — James Cameron’s world-building redefined what visual storytelling could be. Avatar: The Way of Water, released after a 13-year break, carried that legacy forward, expanding the universe with new characters and emotional depth.

Aleksandra Tomaszewska and Kaja Majewska, both 16, analyse James Cameron’s environmental message

January 05, 2026

‘You can’t just dress up and pretend to be young people,’ says 1670 director Maciej Buchwald

This show took Netflix by surprise – not much indicated that 1670, a historical mockumentary set in Poland in the 17th century, with humour deeply rooted in Polish history, traditions and politics, would make it into the top 10 in over 20 countries, from Austria to Jamaica and Canada.

Maja Dobrosielska and Aleksandra Tomaszewska, both 16, interview one of the Netflix show’s creators

January 02, 2026

Kill Bill remains a must-see, genre-defining celebration of cinematic audacity

Tarantino has been criticised for stylising violence to the brink of fetishization. Yet it is this unapologetic embrace of excess that encouraged filmmakers to take artistic risks — proving that violent cinema can also be formally ambitious and culturally resonant.

Antek Popczyński and Tomasz Morek, both 16, revisit Quentin Tarantino’s magnum opus

December 26, 2025

Racing at full throttle. F1: The Movie analysis

The much-awaited F1: The Movie, released last June and starring big-name actors such as Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem and Damson Idris, has redefined what a sports film can achieve on a global scale. The fusion of Hollywood spectacle and real-world Formula 1 elevates the film beyond previous motor sports movies.

Igor Rybkowski, Franek Józefowicz and Mateusz Sarna, all 16, investigate the box office success of this Formula 1 winner

December 19, 2025

Best of 2025: Must-read articles from Harbingers’ newsrooms

My favourite part about being Editor-In-Chief of Harbingers’ Magazine has been working closely and forging relationships with writers from all over the world. This year, I was even able to visit the Nepali Newsroom team in person at the Mountain Children Home in Kathmandu, and meet members of our Sri Lankan Newsroom in Galle and Colombo.

18-year-old Noah Saphier rounds up his favourite articles from our seven newsrooms located around the world

December 12, 2025

A look inside the Nazi mind. Nuremberg review

While it is not the first film to revisit the Nuremberg trials that unfolded after the Second World War, Vanderbilt offer a distinctly new perspective and prompts fresh reflection on this well-documented chapter of history.

Antoni Popczyński and Tomasz Morek, both 16, review a new film about the historic Nuremberg trials

December 12, 2025

Holland values emotional truth over easy storytelling. Franz Kafka review

Agnieszka Holland’s new film, entitled simply Franz Kafka, takes on the challenging task of portraying the life of a famously complex writer. The film isn’t a standard biography – Holland captures a figure suffocating in trying to accomplish competing duties, torn between an obligation towards an authoritative father and the need to follow his loud inner voice.

Kaja Majewska, 16, and Mikołaj Tran, 17, analyse Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland’s latest film

December 12, 2025

A masterpiece about the fight against the patriarchal order. Vermiglio review

Muted tones, silent scenes and the beautiful scenery of a remote Italian village combined with the tragedy of the Second World War. Telling the story of a clash between rural traditions and the changes caused by the ending of the war, Vermiglio, written and directed by Maura Delpero, is a 2024 Italian movie that tells the story of a family living in the Italian mountains in 1944.

Michalina Korycka and Natalia Czeredys, both 16, review Maura Delpero’s innovative film

December 05, 2025

Del Toro’s creature-focused film makes its title sound almost ironic. Frankenstein review

The newest adaptation of Frankenstein, long awaited by millions of fans, was released on Netflix in November. The movie directed by Guillermo del Toro, who has been awarded three times with an Oscar and twice with a Golden Globe, aroused great expectations. Coupled with Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth and Oscar Isaac as the main actors, the film, even before the premiere, was described as a once-in-a-generation creation.

Zosia Dudzic and Barbara Karsznia, both 16, review Netflix’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel

December 05, 2025

‘Acting can be one of the most rewarding lives you can choose,’ says actor Maciej Nawrocki

Some actors are recognised for their face, others for a single, iconic shot or sentence. Voice actors live in that strange space where you might not know their name, but you absolutely know what they sound like.

Zosia Dudzic and Mikołaj Tran, both 16, inquire into the challenges of pursuing a career on screen

November 28, 2025

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest did great damage,’ Institute of Psychiatry’s nurses say

Nurse Hanna Conder-Ołowska told us that she had the opportunity to work in an international corporation, but she turned it down.“When you ask why, I’d like to know that myself. Maybe then I’d be making loads of money. I don’t know. This is my place, I guess that’s why,” she said.

Pola Gudowicz, 17, and Sonia Rybus, 16, interview head nurses at one of Poland’s largest psychiatric hospital

November 28, 2025

A book that made me a reader: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

I feel that I truly became a reader after finishing the first book that really made me think. It not only brought me entertainment, but also made me think about certain things: existence, bonds, the meaning of it all. For the first time, I truly took the time to reflect after reading a story.

16-year-old Aleksandra Tomaszewska opens the debate on how one moves from reading to being a reader

November 28, 2025

‘Best advice I got was: don’t study film production’, says film producer Zofia Kujawska

Zofia Kujawska works in an environment where every frame carries a story, every story carries a risk – and risk is something that has to be embraced, not avoided. In conversation with two Harbingers’ journalists, Karolina Orfinger and Alicja Melaniuk, she explains what being a film producer is actually about.

Alicja Melaniuk, 17, and Karolina Orfinger, 16, inquire on what it takes to work in the film industry

November 21, 2025

‘After all those years, my emotions are totally blocked,’ says war photographer Kuba Kamiński

ABC News’ Kuba Kamiński has taken a camera to the most dangerous places in the world. He witnessed the annexation of Crimea, took pictures at the frontline in Ukraine, filmed Hamas fighters in Gaza, and was there after Israel launched its offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Kaja Majewska, 16, and Klara Hammudeh, 17, ask ABC News’ Kuba Kamiński about the prize – and price – of pursuing war journalism

November 21, 2025

‘Casting is not about who’s the best,’ says casting director Klementyna Szymańska

Have you ever wondered exactly how Margot Robbie became Barbie, and Ryan Gosling was selected to be Ken? How many other amazing actors auditioned for those iconic roles? In the film industry there is a name for the people who make these decisions – a casting director.

Barbara and Zosia, both 16, interview a person whose job it is to match an actor and the character

November 21, 2025

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at 50: Has this film aged too well?

At a psychiatric ward ruled by an all-powerful nurse, Mildred Ratched, only one dared to laugh – Randle McMurphy rebelled against the system and challenged the control and order. Other patients, who remained subordinate to Ratched’s rule, soon turned out to be eager to explore the freedom offered by McMurphy.

Pola Gudowicz, 17, and Sonia Rybus, 16, analyse the strengths and weaknesses of Miloš Forman’s iconic movie

November 21, 2025

Sean Penn steals the show while DiCaprio gets high. One Battle After Another review

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another is a slow-burning process of exploration of what is left after the battle ends. The movie, set in the aftermath of a failed revolution, tells a story of the wounds that never heal.

Kaja, 16, and Alicja, 17, on why Paul Thomas Anderson’s venture into politics does not meet expectations

November 21, 2025

One Battle After Another will serve as Hollywood’s litmus test for Trump anxiety

This year’s film awards season will launch properly in December, with nominations for the Golden Globes, and culminate in March, when the Academy Awards gala – aka the Oscars – are held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

16-year-old Karolina on how Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film might do in this year’s awards season

November 14, 2025

Does the new Chopin film match the composer’s international fame?

The winners of the 2025 International Chopin Piano Competition were announced last month, once again bringing global attention to Warsaw and the enduring brilliance of Polish composer Fréderic Chopin (1810–1849). The overall winner, Eric Lu, is the first American in 50 years to win this prestigious event.

Antoni, Tomasz and Mikołaj, all 16, review a new biopic of Poland’s most famous composer and key cultural icon

November 07, 2025

Filmmakers turn back time in Warsaw: Harbingers’ at the Lalka film set

One of major arteries in the centre of Warsaw was closed last month to serve as a filming location for Lalka, an adaptation of the much-loved 19th-century Polish novel and the largest film production currently being shot in Poland.

Zosia Dudzic and Barbara Karsznia, both 16, interview creatives who teleported Warsaw into the 19th century

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