On My Own Terms

A tender look at two teenage half-siblings growing up in an orphanage in Poland who dream of one day living on their own. Pawel is a skilled boxer and his coach assures him he has a bright path ahead of him if he focuses on training and working hard. Meanwhile, Julka inherits her father’s apartment and makes arrangements so she and her half-brother can move in together. But the children’s home proves to be much more challenging to leave than the teens anticipated. A moving character study of a brother and sister forced to reconcile with their parents’ choices while learning how to navigate adulthood themselves. Beautifully shot with deft attention to detail, On My Own Terms is a unique coming-of-age story that considers what it means to be independent. Vivian Belik