Museumification

In the 1980s socialist Poland, the director, Oliwia, idolized coal miners, the backbone of the country, like every child did. They were seen as national heroes. Later she moved to Finland and now as an adult she returns to Silesia to fulfill her dream of meeting the miners she once admired. Szczepan, a 45-year-old miner, introduces her to the realities of today's mining world. The industry is fading, and the past is being preserved like a museum exhibit.
This process of museumification—turning living traditions into historical artifacts—is central to the documentary’s theme. The film is not just about coal miners; it’s a reflection on how we preserve, idealize, and ultimately transform cultural heroes. As Oliwia explores the changing identity of Polish miners. It’s a universal story of transition, resistance, and the emotions tied to watching a way of life fade into history.
The documentary weaves together the director's narrated thoughts, archival footage, and observational scenes, creating a tapestry that illustrates the evolution of the miners' social status. Key moments, like a St. Barbara's Day celebration in a local kindergarten, serves as moving exhibitions of a culture struggling to maintain relevance in the changing world.