Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Polish comedy about village helping a neighbor; drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
It Takes a Village
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When the hot-headed village matriarch Halina (Anna Seniuk) in IT TAKES A VILLAGE loses her life savings, the first thing she does is call off her wedding to local woodcarver Jan (Artur Barcis). But she does it mid-wedding, dispersing the local oompah band, the priest, and the townspeople dressed in traditional Polish garb. Jan broods, thinking Halina no longer loves him, but when he learns the issue is financial, he rallies friends to help him secretly create crop circles in a field. He spreads the rumor that aliens made them, hoping to attract tourists for a financial bonanza that will pay off Halina's debt. To complicate things, a romantic rival shows up, as does Halina's estranged daughter.
Is It Any Good?
This is of those movies in which everyone involved seems to think that actors pretending to be idiots is somehow going to be charming. This assumption is incorrect. There's lots of yelling when talking would do just fine. Goofy oompah music tells us we are supposed to find it all so funny. When people get mad, they throw crockery. A man is rapidly sinking in mud but doesn't even notice. A man is thwarted from his goal, not once but twice, by people plying him with alcohol. Can't he taste it? Halina is clearly no dummy, yet even she does questionable things that artificially keep the plot going but make no sense.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Halina is so difficult to help. Why do you think she turns down the heartfelt efforts to help her? Have you ever known someone like Halina?
What do you think it would be like to be the daughter of such a hard-nosed and stubborn mom?
Halina's daughter returns to the village for a family gathering but is treated poorly by her mother. Why do you think younger generations leave behind their rural homes to live in the big city?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 1, 2026
- Cast : Anna Seniuk , Artur Barcis , Joanna Trzepiecińska
- Director : Lukasz Kosmicki
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : April 13, 2026
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