Green Border: Cinematic Storytelling as History of the Present

Abstract

This article analyzes Agnieszka Holland’s film Green Border, which addresses the migrant crisis at the Belarus-Poland border, exploring how Foucault’s concept of “history of the present” applies to migration cinema. We argue that Green Border functions as a cinematic intervention that challenges audience perceptions of power structures and their resistance. The study also establishes criteria for analyzing films as “history of the present,” focusing on characteristics such as the immediate relevance of depicted events, the documentation of social issues, the film’s influence on public perception, and a multifaceted narrative construction. Ultimately, the framework shows how cinema reflects and shapes social, political, and cultural realities in real time. © 2024, University Library System, University of Pittsburgh. All rights reserved.