Directed by Jagoda Szelc, this 2018 Polish psychological thriller follows a group of hotel interns who awaken in a cold van and are subjected to increasingly bizarre and dehumanizing experiences, blurring the lines of reality. What is the title of this movie?

The film described, a 2018 Polish psychological thriller from director Jagoda Szelc, is indeed titled "Monument." This enigmatic and unsettling feature plunges viewers into the disorienting experience of a group of hotel interns. Their journey begins abruptly in the confines of a cold van, a stark introduction to the increasingly bizarre and dehumanizing situations they face within a seemingly ordinary hotel setting. Szelc masterfully crafts an atmosphere where the boundaries of reality steadily erode, leaving both the characters and the audience questioning what is real and what is a psychological construct. The pervasive sense of dread, rather than overt violence or jump scares, makes "Monument" an engrossing and unsettling watch.

"Monument" stands out for its unique approach to psychological horror, exploring themes of identity, conformity, and the oppressive nature of certain environments. The interns are often stripped of their individual identities, with girls all called Ania and boys all called Paweł, and subjected to menial and repetitive tasks. This can be seen as a surreal commentary on the dehumanizing aspects of corporate training or the loss of individuality in a structured system. The film also features bizarre and creepy sequences, such as a woman letting rats crawl over her body or characters breaking the fourth wall to deliver cryptic messages.

Szelc's directorial style in "Monument" is characterized by its deliberate pacing and unsettling visual language, which contribute significantly to the film's immersive and disorienting effect. The movie was notably a graduation film for acting students of the Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź, who contributed heavily to its construction. Rather than providing clear answers, the film invites viewers to piece together the fragmented reality presented, making it a compelling watch for those who appreciate films that challenge conventional storytelling. Its exploration of the psychological toll of extreme situations and its ambiguous ending solidify "Monument" as a memorable and thought-provoking entry in contemporary Polish cinema.