- A second look as revealed what could be the best film of 2013
- Crisp monochrome photography- Arri Alexa 35mm
- Mise-en-scene compositions—photography—among the best of the decade
- 1.37: 1 box aspect ratio- influences Schrader’s First Reformed
- Another Pawlikowski trademark- his 80-90 minute running time
- Austere, stark
- Silent montage opening with nuns at the convent—Pawlikowski arranges objects in the frame wondrously—often with the subject/object in the lower plane
- Brilliant performances by both Agata Kulesza (Wanda) and Agata Trzebuchowska (Anna)—love the acting moment when Trzebuchowska’s face shows the shock of being told she’s Jewish – these are complex characters wearing the baggage of their history
- Gorgeous rural road with trees overhanging
- Actors framed in the doorway
- Kulesza’s character is a skeptic- alcoholic, nihilistic, she’s angry (and justly so)- Trzebuchowska’s (with her black eyes) character is naïve and sheltered—they’re a perfect pairing- in an alternate universe this would be a contrasting characters road trip comedy-
- The jazz club scene (and just outside) may be the zenith of the film’s many visual highpoints—there’s the gating outside (below) and streamers and balloons in the mise-en-scene like Von Sternberg’s work
- The level of detail in the compositions—meticulous- very light, every detail in the car
- The suicide sequence is breath-taking
- The trademark Ingmar Bergman face-framing device
- MS/MP
[…] Ida – Pawlikowski […]
I apologize. I did the first comment with another email.
This may come out to be strong but there’s no way on planet earth that this movie is a MS/MP. It’s a masterpiece of a supreme level. It’s one of the decade’s best with gorgeous photography, subtle acting and a narrative supremacy.
I’m not sure about it being stronger than Inside llewyn Davis (according to me best of 2013).
I recently saw both this and cold War again and before I was not but now I’m convinced that cold War is the best film of 2018 (for me it surpassed roma). It’s an unpopular opinion but Joanna kulig is the #2 best female performance of 2010s after Portman.
What a remarkable film about a woman and how she begins to question her faith. At the end she is unsure if she still believes in God. Its a gorgeously photographed, compact movie. One of the best of the 2010s. It actually has very little camera movement but its still so engrossing. Brilliant acted. Wonderful film.
@Azman– very happy to hear we’re on the same page with Ida! Agreed. Wonderful film!