The Queen and the Smokehouse

Mrs Miecia is known as the ‘Queen of Łeba’ in Poland. For decades, she has run her legendary fish smokehouse, ‘U Mieci’ – a place that is far more than just a business: it is a meeting place, her raison d’être and her identity all rolled into one. Despite her advanced age and the hazardous working conditions, she has no intention of stopping. Her connection to this place, to the people, and to the routines that have shaped her life runs too deep. The documentary follows Miecia through a period of upheaval. Under the growing influence of her family and staff, she is forced for the first time to pause and take stock of herself. Between care and resistance, a multi-layered portrait unfolds of a woman who has dedicated her life to work and is now confronted with the physical and emotional consequences. Iga Lis’s documentary debut opened the 65th Krakow Film Festival in 2025. With great warmth and subtle sensitivity, the director paints a picture of a charismatic, headstrong personality. Set against the rugged beauty of the Baltic coast and interwoven with Baltic folklore, a poignant story emerges about devotion, transience and the question of when it is time to let go.