The film is the story of a journey that never took place.

A boy of eleven dreams of a trip to Venice, but the family's travel plans are interrupted by the outbreak of World War Two. The mother takes him to the family estate, the home of his eccentric aunts who ‘create’ an imaginary Venice in the flooded cellar of the house. Critics say that the film’s portrayal of the boy’s confrontation with the brutal realities of war is shown in a highly powerful and visually stunning way.

Venice has already attracted considerable interest in Poland, winning several prizes at this year's Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, including Best Photography, Best Production Design and  Best Acting Debut (for Marcin Walewski).

The script of Venice, by the director Jan Jakub Kolski, is based on a short story by the acclaimed Polish writer Włodzimierz Odojewski. Kolski’s previous films include Jasminum and Pornography. (mk)