Netflix recently added a Polish film to its roster. Divorce (2024, Rozwodnicy) follows the absurdly complicated journey of Jacek and Malgosia, an estranged couple trying to obtain a church-sanctioned divorce. Set against the backdrop of their current lives—Malgosia as a conductor and Jacek engaged to be married—the film explores how personal choices are influenced by societal and religious expectations and the challenges of moving on.
With a quick-witted and humorous narrative, the 90-minute Polish film digs into the intrusive nature of religious institutions, highlighting how the church’s rigid adherence to the sanctity of marriage complicates individual decisions. As the ex-couple faces the church’s demand for proof and justification of their past, the story takes a light-hearted, fast-paced, and comedic approach to exploring family dynamics. It also highlights how people striving for personal change can become trapped by institutional pressures and societal expectations, which often blind them to their own goals.
If you’re looking for an easy-breezy film to unwind with after a long day, you must check out Divorce (2024, Rozwodnicy). While it may offend some faith-based believers, the film portrays the ongoing battle between secular perspectives and modern-day relationships, offering a refreshing take on the challenges of love and commitment.
In this article, I’ll dive into the film’s events and explore whether our protagonists ultimately get their divorce approved by the church. Please note that this article contains spoilers, so reader discretion is advised.
Divorce (2024, Rozwodnicy) ‘Netflix’ Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
What happens in Michal Chacinski’s Divorce (2024, Rozwodnicy)?
The opening shot of Divorce (2024, Rozwodnicy) reveals that Jacek and Malgosia were married many years ago when they were both 20 years old. They also have a college-going daughter named Ilona. However, after separating, the two individuals moved on with their lives. Malgosia, an orchestra conductor at the school-going kids’ club, is happily married to Andyzej, a taxi driver, and the couple has a daughter, Ala.
Jacek, on the other hand, is engaged to be married but needs the church’s approval of his divorce before the wedding can proceed. When Malgosia attends Jacek’s mother’s funeral, Jacek asks his ex-wife for a favor: to work together with him in nullifying their marriage in the eyes of the church. Malgosia sees no problem in agreeing to help with the documents until she realizes that the church is not so accommodating when it comes to nullifying the institution of marriage due to religious reasons.
How does Jacek and Malgosia’s first meeting with the church go?
After submitting documents that contain a series of personal questions regarding their marriage and personal relationship, Malgosia is surprised to learn that the church has summoned her for an interrogation. Upon meeting a priest and his very judgmental and religious assistant, she realizes that the road to obtaining divorce approval is not going to be as smooth as she had thought. When she finds an old acquaintance as Jacek’s witness rambling about what he thought of the couple’s marriage, Malgosia frustratingly claims to withdraw the petition of divorce with Jacek.
Why is the church not simply sanctioning the couple’s divorce?
The following day, the priest and his assistant visit Malgosia at her workplace to inform her that a declaration of their marriage nullity will require a ruling from The Vatican. For this, the couple will need to provide evidence of issues within their marriage, which is the basis for the request. The reason for this ordeal is that the church believes in the institution of marriage. Since Jacek and Malgosia married in a church under the sacred terms of marriage, it is imperative that they adhere to those terms.
However, because they are no longer living according to those principles and are doing as they wish, the church is now putting them on trial to explain why they are taking such a step after initially choosing to marry in front of an institution. It essentially questions why people do certain things in the first place when they no longer believe in them.
How is Malgosia coping with her current life?
Amidst dealing with the divorce issue, it turns out that Malgosia also needs to be present for her family. After seven years of performing with her mother in the orchestra, which frequently earned them gigs around the city, Ala has suddenly decided to quit.
Meanwhile, her relationship with Andyzej begins to show signs of strain, as Malgosia becomes increasingly distracted by the stress of managing her boss, the church, and trying to disentangle herself from the problems Jacek has caused in his efforts to secure a fresh start. She thinks Jacek has always been immature and has never taken responsibility for his actions, and this time, too, it seems like she is bearing more of the burden than he is.
How do Malgosia and Jacek try to manipulate the church?
Since Malgosia and Jacek had their daughter, Iloma, out of wedlock, which is considered an impious act by the church, the duo figures out a way to lie and present Jacek as having a problematic personality that made Malgosia leave the marriage. However, the church doesn’t buy any excuses and demands evidence to support their statements. Father Tomasz even sends the ex-couple to a lawyer, but he does not help them much due to his religious loyalty.
Meanwhile, the duo reaches out to another old friend who was one of the drunken guests at their wedding but has since turned sober. They try to bribe him with a substantial amount of money to lie in front of the church, claiming that Jacek was a drunkard and couldn’t read his vows correctly.
How do the family dynamics unravel at the dinner?
On their way back, Jacek’s car breaks down, and on the spur of the moment, he starts reminiscing about old times. However, Malgosia reminds him that they are no longer the same people; both live drastically different lives with other partners. Later, at the family dinner, when Jacek’s fiancée expresses her anxiety about the divorce documents coming through soon, Andyzej and Jacek have a minor spat after Jacek mentions being a dutiful father to Iloma.
Andrzej points out how Jacek has been absent for most of Iloma’s life. Upon seeing Iloma and her boyfriend, Malgosia decides to spend the night partying with her “first family,” which includes Jacek. This choice upsets Andyzej, who is already frustrated about his grant being declined and feels unable to discuss it with Malgosia because she is preoccupied with other issues.
Later, Malgosia’s boss finds out that several band members are absent from practice after learning that they will need to perform for a local minister who wants to ceremonially reopen a station that is already functioning. With Ala also having quit the band, Malgosia talks to her daughter about her decision. She asks if Ala has quit the band out of spite or if she genuinely wants to pursue a different path.
Divorce (2024, Rozwodnicy) ‘Netflix’ Movie Ending Explained:
What prompts Jacek to become emotional during the final stage of the church trial?
The final stage of the church’s trial comes to light, and Malgosia and Jacek are once again summoned together in front of a Vatican priest via a Zoom call. This time, the church brings forth the priest who officiated their wedding. During the interrogation, the priest gives a vague answer, suggesting that Jacek was not drunk on their wedding day and that they appeared to be a couple madly in love.
However, Malgosia cross-questions the priest, asking if he remembered baptizing their daughter, Iloma. When he answers yes, she calls him out in front of everyone, revealing that Iloma was actually baptized in a different church closer to Jacek’s family home. This revelation puts the priests in an awkward position, and they ask for more time to come to a conclusion.
Out of frustration, Jacek interrupts, delivering an emotional speech. He admits he’s tired of the lies and fabricated stories just to obtain a simple divorce for a marriage that no longer exists. He confesses to being immature and naive when they married at 20, and says the decision was largely due to the pressure from the church after they had a child before marriage.
He expresses how unfair it was to put young people in such a difficult position. Jacek also admits he hasn’t been there for Malgosia and wishes her the best in her current life, which includes a beautiful family. He also hopes to have the same happiness with his fiancée. He ends the speech by saying that this trial has been exhausting for everyone involved.
The priest at the church listens silently and forgives him. However, the Vatican priest, unaware of most of what was said, doesn’t respond— his screen froze due to a poor internet connection during the Zoom call.
Does the church approve of Jacek and Malgosia’s divorce?
While the ex-couple waits for the church’s conclusion, we see Malgosia concluding her ties with Jacek, regardless of the outcome. She also manages to gather her students for the gig, where she discovers that her daughter, Ala, has decided to join in as well. The team successfully makes it to the station for the performance. On their way home, Malgosia apologizes to her husband, Andyzej, acknowledging that he has been incredibly caring, understanding, and patient with her amidst everything. She admits it was wrong of her not to be there for him when he needed her. The two reconcile and end up making out in their car.
The ending of Divorce (2024, Rozwodnicy) reveals the church finally accepting Jacek and Malgosia’s divorce petition, nullifying the sanctity of their marriage. We see Jacek marrying his fiancée at the same church, with Malgosia and her family as witnesses, while Father Tomasz officiates Jacek’s second marriage.
