52 Films by Women Vol 9. 40. Uwierz w Mikołaja 2 (Believe in Santa Claus 2) (Director: Anna Wieczur)
Written by Dominika Hilszczańska and Renata Frydrych, working with Magdalena Witkiewicz, on whose novel the original film was based, Uwierz w Mikołaja 2 reintroduces us to Zosia’s mother Anna (Agnieszka Więdłocha) who is about to marry policeman Robert (Mateus Janicki). Only the groom is kidnapped on the way to the church. His colleagues remind him that he had not organised a bachelor party. Agnieszka (Aleksandra Grabowska) has a boyfriend, Mikołaj (Grzegorz Daukszewicz) who proposes on a stalled ski lift, applauded by a crowd from an adjacent pod. However, she spurns him after learning that he intends to move to Qatar for work; she has studies to complete. Meanwhile, the residents of the retirement home, ‘Happy End’, where Zosia’s grandmother, Sabina (Marta Lipińska) lives, welcome a new arrival, Aleksander (Olgierd Łukaszewicz) who just wants to be left alone.
Artur receives an unwelcome message from his estranged partner, Aldona (Michalina Sosna) who tells him that he owes 32,000 zloty on the flat and is likely to be evicted. She ran up the debt but shows no interest in paying it. Artur is told that he won’t be forced on the street if a child lives in the property. He buys Zosia a large stuffed toy in order to persuade her to move in with him. However, the shock causes Sabina to have a heart attack. In hospital, she is kept on life support; doctors fear the worst. Zosia believes she can save her grandmother if she visits Santa Claus, who happens to be appearing on television in Warsaw; she doesn’t question his need to appear on a daytime talk show, ‘Good Morning Poland’. By coincidence, Aldona is driving to Warsaw to attend an audition for a reality show, which she believes will earn her big money and turn her into a social media celebrity. Whatever happened to becoming a film star?
We spend some of the film with two young couples. Anna and Robert drive to their honeymoon resort where they will be welcomed by a jacuzzi, champagne and strawberries coated in chocolate, when Robert proposes an alternative. Turn left and they can take an adventure. This involves staying in a lodge with a group of other young people who sleep just behind Robert and sing their congratulations to the happy couple then start a party. The couple have no phone reception and therefore no idea that Sabina is in a critical condition. Meanwhile Mikołaj tries to placate Agnieszka, only he won’t abandon his plans to move. ‘I thought you had changed your mind,’ he whimpers. Artur meanwhile gets drunk with his friends. He is unable to help Zosia get to Warsaw.
Pictured: Seven-year-old Zosia (Wiktoria Nowak) embraces her mother Anna (Agnieszka Więdłocha) as groom Robert (Mateus Janicki) and assorted characters look on in a scene from the Polish Christmas comedy, 'Uwierz w Mikołaja 2' ('Believe in Santa Claus 2'), directed by Anna Wieczur. Still courtesy of Magnetes Pictures (Poland) / Next Film.
It is left for the ‘Happy End’ women and a harassed Aleksander to raise
money for expensive medical treatment. One of the women curses a great deal,
earning the film a ‘12a’ certificate in the UK, but the amount in their swear
box won’t cover it. They sing traditional songs to little success; one of the
women wants to keep the button thrown in their cap. Then a trombone player
joins them. Their takings improve. It isn’t long before they are invited to
take part in a concert in the town square to raise funds.
Zosia’s attempts to reach Warsaw spark an alert for a missing child. She stows away in Aldona’s car. The would-be television star drops her off at a petrol station and tells her to hitch a ride home. Only Zosia appeals to a bearded truck driver for a lift.
There is an amusing scene in which the police interview neighbourhood Santa Clauses in order to find Zosia. One of their number has adult clientele and bares his chest for effect. Reluctant to entertain more than two women in his room – they offer sandwiches and alcohol - Aleksander reveals the cause of his withdrawn behaviour in a scene that is bold for a commercial Polish film appealing to a large, conservative Catholic audience. There is also a curt and assertive female taxi driver (Jadwiga Baśinska) who tells Mikołaj to leave her cab; she’ll take Agnieszka wherever she wants to go. By the end of the film, the taxi driver wills Mikołaj to win her back. There is the comic delivery of an ‘eco’ Christmas Tree; two cheerful young men who speak in unison will collect it after use. Seemed pretty useful to me. There is also a scene in which the ‘Happy End’ residents are gathered round a television set watching Die Hard, because it is a Christmas film. One of them covers Zosia’s eyes. Yippee kay-yay, Pirogi.
Pictured: Someone's knocking at the door. Someone's bringing me sandwiches and alcohol. Aleksander (Olgierd Łukaszewicz, right) meets the 'Happy End' residents in a scene from the Polish Christmas comedy, 'Uwierz w Mikołaja 2' ('Believe in Santa Claus 2'), directed by Anna Wieczur. Still courtesy of Magnetes Pictures (Poland) / Next Film.
Does the film believe in Santa? Not exactly. ‘Good Morning Poland’ features a Finnish-speaking gentleman with a fluffy beard who requires a translator. Toys are provided on cue – a car for a boy, a doll’s house for a girl. Zosia receives unexpected help in presenting her Christmas wish, watched by members of her family.
At the climax, the characters gather around Sabina’s hospital bed when one of the characters looks at their phone and starts screaming. You can guess the result.
At one point, Zosia lectures Aldona on the importance of being self-reliant. Aldona believes in getting men to do things for her. However, she explains this while holding a tyre iron.
Screening in the UK only at the evening, the film attracted a number of young couples on a Saturday night who (I think) laughed twice. While there is an uplifting ending, we don’t find out if the debt on Artur’s apartment will be paid. As modern Christmas films go, Uwierz w Mikołaja 2 surpasses the low bar set by Christmas Karma and is topped and tailed by wide shots showcasing the location, albeit with a slightly dodgy digitally rendered shot of the view inside Sabina’s hospital room.
Reviewed at Wood Green Cineworld, Screen Seven, North London, Saturday 29 November 2025, 19:20 screening
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