Movie No. 84 (2014): IDA
Ida (2014)
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Cast: Agata Kulesza, Agata Trzebuchowska
In Polish, with English subtitles
18 year-old Anna is a sheltered orphan who's on the verge of being a full-fledged nun. Mother Superior insists that she see her only living relative. Now face-to-face with her mother's sister, Anna will be taken to a journey to the past to discover her Jewish family's dark past during the Nazi occupation when she was Anna was still an infant named Ida.
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Cast: Agata Kulesza, Agata Trzebuchowska
In Polish, with English subtitles
18 year-old Anna is a sheltered orphan who's on the verge of being a full-fledged nun. Mother Superior insists that she see her only living relative. Now face-to-face with her mother's sister, Anna will be taken to a journey to the past to discover her Jewish family's dark past during the Nazi occupation when she was Anna was still an infant named Ida.
The film, shot in black and white photography, is visually stunning. The cinematography effectively captures even the coldness and emptiness of the immediate surroundings, which can viewed as allegory to Anna's response to what she's been discovering about her family's past. Some of the shots demand to be noticed. The off-centered shots look imperfect, which make the effect perfect for the meaning they convey. The actress who portrays Anna has a face that can be compared to a blank canvass, which is perfect for the character's demands.
A masterpiece indeed.
Rating: 4.0/4.0
Date seen: November 16, 2014
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