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Ida-Movie Review 01/16/2015

Posted by Films to consider in Drama, European Film Awards, Golden Globes, Independent Film Awards, Minsk International Film Festival, Movies, Pawel Pawlikowski, Polish Film Awards, Polish language film.
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Ida (Polish) 2013

Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski
Starring Agata Kulesza, Agata Trzebuchowska, and Dawid Ogrodnik

Among many other awards and nominations:
NOMINATED, Best Foreign Language Film, Golden Globes
WINNER, Audience Award (Pawlikowski); Best Director (Pawlikowski); Best Screenwriter; Best Cinematographer; NOMINATED, Best Actress (Kulesza); Best Actress (Trzebuchowska), European Film Awards
NOMINATED, Best International Film (Pawlikowski), Independent Film Awards
WINNER, Best Actress (Kulesza); Grand Prix Golden Listapad-Best Film (Pawlikowski); Listapad Silver Award-Art as Phenomenon (Pawlikowski); Yury Marukhin Memorial Award-Best Cinematography, Minsk International Film Festival
WINNER, Best Film (Pawlikowski); Best Director (Pawlikowski); Best Actress (Kulesza); NOMINATED, Best Screenplay (Pawlikowski and Rebecca Lenkiewicz); Best Cinematography, Best editing, Polish Film Awards

In 1960s Poland, young Ida (Trzebuchowska), who was raised in a convent as an orphan, is about to take her vows to become a nun. She must first visit Wanda, an aunt who is her only known relative and whom she has never met. When Wanda (Kulesza) reveals that Ida is of Jewish background, Ida’s faith and decision about her future are tested.

The film is shot in black and white, which adds to the pensive atmosphere behind Ida’s struggle to decide between the outside world and her commitment to God. Agata Trzebuchowska was a non-actress when tapped to play Ida; she was chosen after the director had already auditioned over 400 actresses. She received many accolades for her performance; so far this is her only role.

82 min. Rated PG-13.

 

The Last Stage-Movie Review *** 03/21/2011

Posted by Films to consider in Based on true story, Drama, Movies, Polish language film, World War II.
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The Last Stage (Polish) 1948/2010
Ostatni Etap

Winner, Crystal Globe (Writers Jakubowska and Schneider), Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Nominated, Best Film, BAFTA Awards

Directed by Wanda Jakubowska
Written by Wanda Jakubowska and Gerda Schneider
Starring Edward Dziewonski, Tatjana Grojecka, Antonina Gordon Gorecka, Barbara Drapinska, Aleksandra Slaska

A black and white film about Auschwitz, based on true events and filmed soon after the happenings that are recorded. The film was recently rediscovered and released on DVD.

A group of women imprisoned in the Nazi camp band together to survive. One of the women, Marta Weiss (Drapinska), has been selected to act as interpreter.

The film is based on events in the life of director Wanda Jakubowska, who was imprisoned in a concentration camp. Considering how closely this film was to the actual events, the story is even more powerful and moving.

105 min. Unrated. Adult themes.