Martyna Byczkowska
Lena Głowacka
Overview
Two childhood best friends enjoying their final seaside summer as they prepare for film school meet an aspiring athlete who ignites unfamiliar desires.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
6 min read AI-generated editorial review
The Last Summer Before Everything Changes
I’ve watched Absolute Beginners twice now, and what lingers isn’t the plot—though it’s perfectly serviceable—but the way it captures the sensory overload of being eighteen. The salt-sticky skin after a day at the beach, the way sunlight turns hair into a halo, the electric jolt of a glance that lasts a second too long. This Polish miniseries, streaming quietly on Netflix since last October, is less about what happens than how it feels to be on the cusp of adulthood, when every decision carries the weight of a future you can’t yet imagine.
The story follows Lena (Martyna Byczkowska) and Niko (Bartłomiej Deklewa), childhood best friends spending their final summer at the Polish seaside before leaving for film school. Their plan is simple: make a short film together, something raw and personal, to submit with their applications. But when they meet Igor (Jan Sałasiński), a brooding athlete from a nearby sports camp, their dynamic fractures. What begins as a creative collaboration becomes a minefield of desire, jealousy, and unspoken questions. Who are they to each other? Who do they want to be?
The series is often compared to Luca Guadagnino’s sun-drenched coming-of-age films, and the comparison isn’t unfair. Like Call Me by Your Name, Absolute Beginners luxuriates in the physicality of its setting—the way the Baltic coast becomes a character in its own right, its windswept beaches and crumbling piers framing the emotional turbulence of its characters. But where Guadagnino’s films often feel like elegies for lost time, Absolute Beginners is messier, more immediate. It’s less about nostalgia than the terrifying, exhilarating present tense of being young.
What sets the series apart, though, is Lena. She’s autistic, and the show’s portrayal of her neurodivergence is one of its most quietly radical elements. Lena isn’t defined by her autism, but it shapes how she moves through the world—her literal-mindedness, her sensory sensitivities, her struggle to read social cues. When she proposes an explicit sex scene for their film, storyboarded down to the last detail, it’s not just a creative choice; it’s a way for her to control a world that often feels chaotic. Niko’s discomfort with the idea isn’t just about the content—it’s about the way Lena’s precision clashes with his own ambiguity. Their friendship, which has always been a safe harbor, suddenly feels like uncharted territory.
I’ve watched Absolute Beginners twice now, and what lingers isn’t the plot—though it’s perfectly serviceable—but the way it captures the sensory overload of being eighteen. The salt-sticky skin after a day at the beach, the way sunlight turns hair into a halo, the electric jolt of a glance that lasts a second too long. This Polish miniseries, streaming quietly on Netflix since last October, is less about what happens than how it feels to be on the cusp of adulthood, when every decision carries the weight of a future you can’t yet imagine.
The story follows Lena (Martyna Byczkowska) and Niko (Bartłomiej Deklewa), childhood best friends spending their final summer at the Polish seaside before leaving for film school. Their plan is simple: make a short film together, something raw and personal, to submit with their applications. But when they meet Igor (Jan Sałasiński), a brooding athlete from a nearby sports camp, their dynamic fractures. What begins as a creative collaboration becomes a minefield of desire, jealousy, and unspoken questions. Who are they to each other? Who do they want to be?
The series is often compared to Luca Guadagnino’s sun-drenched coming-of-age films, and the comparison isn’t unfair. Like Call Me by Your Name, Absolute Beginners luxuriates in the physicality of its setting—the way the Baltic coast becomes a character in its own right, its windswept beaches and crumbling piers framing the emotional turbulence of its characters. But where Guadagnino’s films often feel like elegies for lost time, Absolute Beginners is messier, more immediate. It’s less about nostalgia than the terrifying, exhilarating present tense of being young.
What sets the series apart, though, is Lena. She’s autistic, and the show’s portrayal of her neurodivergence is one of its most quietly radical elements. Lena isn’t defined by her autism, but it shapes how she moves through the world—her literal-mindedness, her sensory sensitivities, her struggle to read social cues. When she proposes an explicit sex scene for their film, storyboarded down to the last detail, it’s not just a creative choice; it’s a way for her to control a world that often feels chaotic. Niko’s discomfort with the idea isn’t just about the content—it’s about the way Lena’s precision clashes with his own ambiguity. Their friendship, which has always been a safe harbor, suddenly feels like uncharted territory.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reports AI-researched entertainment notes
Netflix’s Absolute Beginners: The Teen Drama Stirring Up Summer Romance
Netflix’s Absolute Beginners (2023) dropped last October with little fanfare, but the Polish teen drama is quietly carving out a niche for its raw, sun-soaked exploration of first love and self-discovery. Starring Martyna Byczkowska and Bartłomiej Deklewa as childhood best friends navigating their final summer before film school, the series blends nostalgia with the messy, electric energy of adolescence—especially when an aspiring athlete (Jan Sałasiński) enters the picture, igniting desires neither saw coming 
.
A Director Duo with a Darker Edge
The series marks a collaboration between two Polish directors with distinct styles. Kamila Tarabura, known for her work on Into the Night (a high-stakes survival thriller), and Katarzyna Warzecha, whose credits include the emotionally charged We Have One Heart, bring contrasting tones to Absolute Beginners. Tarabura’s thriller background suggests a sharper, more suspenseful undercurrent, while Warzecha’s drama experience likely tempers the story with intimacy. The pair co-wrote the series alongside Nina Lewandowska (Into the Night) and Jędrzej Napiecek (The Last Tale About Earth), a team that could explain the show’s balance of warmth and tension 
.
What’s unclear is how their creative partnership played out behind the scenes. Did Tarabura push for grittier twists, or did Warzecha’s influence keep the focus on character-driven moments? With no on-set reports or interviews in the evidence, the dynamics remain a mystery—but the result is a series that feels both familiar and unpredictable.
The Cast: Rising Stars and Veteran Anchors
Byczkowska and Deklewa, the show’s leads, are relative newcomers, but their chemistry is the backbone of Absolute Beginners. Byczkowska, in particular, has drawn attention for her portrayal of a young woman grappling with shifting friendships and newfound attraction. Sałasiński, as the athlete who disrupts their dynamic, adds a layer of physicality and vulnerability, though details about his character’s arc are scarce [3].
The supporting cast includes seasoned Polish actors like Katarzyna Warnke (The Hater) and Andrzej Konopka (The Woods), whose presence suggests deeper subplots. Warnke’s role as a parent or mentor figure could add emotional weight, while Konopka’s involvement hints at a darker, possibly antagonistic thread. Paulina Krzyżańska, Piotr Witkowski, and Julian Świeżewski round out the ensemble, but their characters’ specifics remain under wraps .
Release and Reception: A Quiet Splash
Absolute Beginners premiered on Netflix on October 25, 2023, with little pre-release buzz . Unlike the platform’s high-profile YA adaptations (Heartstopper, One of Us Is Lying), the series didn’t benefit from a major marketing push, which may explain its lower profile. However, its niche appeal—rooted in authentic performances and a sun-drenched aesthetic—has earned it a cult following among viewers craving something grittier than typical teen fare.
Critics have yet to weigh in en masse, but early audience reactions praise the show’s cinematography and Byczkowska’s performance. Whether it’ll get a second season is anyone’s guess; Netflix hasn’t confirmed renewal plans, and the evidence offers no hints [1][2].
What’s Next?
For now, Absolute Beginners remains a hidden gem—one that rewards viewers who stumble upon it. The lack of behind-the-scenes coverage means fans are left to speculate: Did the directors clash over tone? Are there deleted scenes that deepen the love triangle? Without more evidence, the answers are as elusive as the series itself.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
Series
Similar Series
Related series ranked by rating and popularity.
El Chavo del Ocho
1973 • Series
Extracurricular
2020 • Series
Love and Destiny
2019 • Series
Jai Rao
2008 • Series
Angel's Share
2010 • Series
999 Days of Begging
2025 • Series
See You Again
2019 • Series
Drovers' Gold
1997 • Series
Le Jun Kai
2013 • Series
Love in Time
2018 • Series
Gustakh Dil
2013 • Series
Husband in Disguise
2022 • Series