Poland’s entry into the Academy Awards Best Foreign Film category this year, Cold War is a black and white film directed by Pawel Pawlikowski. He won the Best Foreign Film Academy Award in 2015 for Ida, a film I enjoyed that year. Cold War was also nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Director at this year’s Oscars (lost to Roma in all three categories). I really enjoyed this bittersweet film set in the 1950’s in Poland and France at the height of the cold war between communist countries and the “free” world. The film is rated R for some sexual content, nudity and language.
Zula (Joanna Kulig) and Wiktor (Tomasz Kot) meet when musical director Wiktor is helping find young singers and folk dancers to form a traveling Polish dance troupe. Zula is a talented singer and dancer, and a charismatic young woman, and the two fall in love. Wiktor has dreams of being a composer and musician beyond the folk music of Poland, and loves jazz music of the West.
When the state wants the troupe to sing and glorify Stalin and the communist propaganda, Wiktor especially finds his involvement in the group more and more draining. The two lovers dream of defecting and making their escape to France and the jazz clubs of Paris.
To say their relationship is a long and winding road is not exaggerating. Especially what Zula does to help Wiktor over the years shows her selflessness and deep love for him.
Did you see Cold War? Do you think it should have won in any of the nominated categories over Roma?
Hi Sue - we had it down here ... and I thought it was excellent - and very relevant to Eastern Europe - which I visited briefly in 1974 ... but which I worked with for 4 years ... I haven't seen Roma: so can't compare ... but I recommend Cold War - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI'd watch Cold War again, but probably not Roma.
DeleteI heard that Cold War is an excellent film and hope to see it. It sounds compelling but sad
ReplyDeleteIt is sad, especially at the end, but despite that I was really glad I saw it.
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