"IDA" (Poland 2014)

IDA

Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski

Ida (Agata Trzebuchowska) is a young, orphaned novice a few days from taking her vows in the convent that has been her only home since infancy when she learns of the existence of a previously unknown aunt named Wanda (Agata Kulesza). Wanda, a Communist judge, could have adopted her, but didn't. Her reasons are slowly, and painfully, revealed.

That's all the synopsis I'm going to give you: two actresses named 'Agata'--that is enough reason to see this movie! That they are both exceptional actresses is a plus. But the star of this movie is the cinematographer: it is shot in a rich, evocative Black & White that not only harkens back to the classic Polish films of the early Sixties (when the story takes place), but heightens the well-earned comparisons to the films of Robert Bresson.

Like a Bresson film, you have to let this movie envelope you: each scene is paced and framed to reveal its characters slowly. The early convent scenes are near-wordless wonders: most of the scenes are blocked to reveal the enormous space above the characters heads--so much so, that even the subtitles are forced to move up the frame to avoid hitting faces in the scene! When the movie hits the road, the true nature of the post-war, Communist Polish society -- buried secrets, mistrust, cynicism -- is depicted. 

The family secret that Wanda shares with Ida is too gut-wrenching to reveal here. It is both the strength and drawback of this film that Ida's reaction to the news is hidden from the audience--much like her beautiful red hair is hidden under her habit (metaphor alert!) -- but since she is practiced at hiding her emotions in the convent, it would be forced and manipulative for the director to tug at our heartstrings for an easy payoff. Instead, the movie takes another (predictable) route: two scenes in particular (late in the film) do not ring true to me.

But that won't stop me from recommending "IDA" as a genuine work of art.

Ida--she's a Polish Claire Danes!