Pongo Calling

*The premiere of the film „Pongo Calling“ will be part of the main program of the „One World“ festival. Screening will take place on November 9, at Bratislava’s A4.

Pongo Calling / Tomáš Kratochvíl / Czech Republic, Slovakia, Great Britain 2022 / 78 min. – Štefan Pongo is a Roma lorry driver. Fifteen years ago, he emigrated with his family from the Czech Republic to the UK to protect them from racial discrimination. The children have graduated from universities and the family is doing well. Mission completed. But the echoes of hate carry over from the old country. When the Czech president Zeman claims that the Roma are work-shy, angry Štefan issues an appeal for photos of Roma working. Thousands are sent and Štefan becomes a well-known media figure. He produces vlogs, organises antiracist demonstrations and provides humanitarian aid to Slovak Roma settlements in need. He establishes a civic association and fights an online battle with the “haters”. All that comes at the cost of lost time with the family. Štefan’s temperamental wife Iveta has had enough. Will it be possible to get some harmony back into the life of this prominent Roma lorry driver?