It Takes a Village Review: When Halina falls for a scam and loses her life savings, it’s up to her family and their village to band together and help her save her house and farm from being taken due to her debt.
-
It Takes a Village Netflix Cast
Anna Seniuk, Artur Barciś, Filip Gurłacz, Joanna Trzepiecińska, Cezary Żak, Anna Szymańczyk, Mateusz Janicki, Wiktor Zborowski, Piotr Pręgowski, Angelika Cegielska
-
It Takes a Village Movie Director
Lukasz Kosmicki
-
It Takes a Village 2026 Writers
Katarzyna Frankowska, Katarzyna Golenia
-
Original Title
Podlasie
The film has a runtime of 96 minutes.
It Takes a Village Review
Following the events of the 2024 film No Pressure, which saw old Halina manipulating her granddaughter Oliwia to come back and take care of their farm, we arrive a few years later, when Oliwia has adjusted to taking care of said farm, but the problems just don’t stop coming. The film, with a rather short runtime, continues to be an obvious watch, where the annoying Halina continues to be a completely terrible person, manipulating her poor fiancé and leaving him at the altar because she thinks she knows about crypto.
Cue everyone trying to help Halina solve the problems that she has created without spending one thought on anyone around her, and speaking to everyone super disrespectfully. If you’ve seen the previous film, you’d understand my frustration – Halina is truly an entitled character who is hard to root for.
Either way, the movie is supposed to be a warm and funny look at communities coming together to protect their own. It has a sweet ring to it, and its heart is in the right place, but the film feels a bit too exaggerated for its own good, leaving us to watch it despite knowing where it’s going. Highlighting the burden of falling for scams, the film showcases the hardships of overcoming debt, and you feel somewhat emotional for Halina and her family as they all try to help the old lady come out of the woods with her self-respect intact.
The performances are mostly fine, with most of the previous characters returning to provide a complete look at the story. Everyone’s performances are slightly theatrical, but that’s been the vibe of the series, so the exaggeration is meant to bring out the comedy. It feels a bit implausible and childish at times, but I guess it’s not bad for a lighthearted comfort watch that you will gladly forget after it’s over.
Unfortunately, it’s Halina’s stubbornness that really got me annoyed, much like the previous one. Falling for scams is one thing, treating everyone terribly because you feel some type of way is another. It left me quite annoyed more often than not, although the supporting cast’s stories feel rather delightful. I think I would’ve enjoyed watching Oliwia and Ewa’s stories more than Halina’s, considering their lives are complicated and nuanced. But, alas.
Final Thoughts
It Takes a Village can be overwhelming if you’re looking for a cerebral comedy film. Its protagonist is absolutely annoying, but the film has its heart in the right place, especially when it comes to the supporting characters. Overall, it’s fine for a relaxed and slightly chaotic watch.
Also Read: