Movie reviews

KINO DZIECI (KIDS KINO)

ZA DUZY NA BAJKI (TOO OLD FOR FAIRY TALES) - Q&A WITH THE THREE CHILD ACTORS, PRODUCER AND MUSIC COMPOSER 

The 3 child actors live far from each other but got on like a house on fire at once and became best friends forever on set. Actor Maciej Karaś (Waldek in the movie) likes gaming, hates cycling, some lines in the movie came from him. Both boys are similar to the characters they played. Both the actors and the director wanted them to be themselves, not caring about comments, so that it looks authentic. They played themselves. The producer didn't interfere, trusted everyone's skill. Director Kris (Kristoffer Rus) interfered in the music so that it doesn't take attention away from the protagonists. Both the composer and the director played to the contrary: if sad, to take this feeling away, to lighten up, if comedy, also to change the mood.  Music shouldn't disturb. E.g. in the fist bump scene where the last music 'boom' is on the fists. The 1.5 months' shooting took place from mid-August to the end of September so it took one month of school time, both boys were in the 8th grade. They never opened the textbooks they took with them. But Patryk (the slim boy, playing Staszek Lebioda) was reading "Quo Vadis" on set between scenes. As interviewer Kaja Klimek remarked, Jennifer Lawrence had been reading "Harry Potter" during "Hunger Games". As for the gaming scenes, the screen was blue and they pretended playing. Maciek was already thinking about lunch. Kids on acting with adults: "they taught us a lot, were mentors, gave tips." An adult actress had to adjust herself and become natural. The movie was shot in Warsaw, only the airport and wakepark outside the city but nearby. A professional stuntwoman jumped instead of the aunt and the cameraman jumped with her. The actress, Dorota Kolak, had a special cameraman with a small Go Pro camera. She had great character, the kids talked to her a lot. Patryk Siemek dubs and acted in 2 commercials, the girl (Amelia Fijałkowska as Delfna Rogalska) dubs, was in a commercial and an episode of the serial "Na dobre i na złe". Maciek acted only at a school Nativity play - as a donkey. The producer hopes for a sequel. A script is there, shooting scheduled for next summer, to be ready in March 2024. This first film was shot a year go - the girl was 11, the boys 13 back then.

ICARE (ICARUS)

Watchable. Partly saucy, partly mildly philosophical, loosely inspired by the myth. I couldn't quite make out the sense of the plot. But it looked lovely, Disneyesque. Arabic music and bellydance in ancient Greece? Historical data indicates both the rhythms and the dance may well be accurate.

ORPHAN: FIRST KILL

Recommended. It opens like a horror. But it's a gripping slasher with a top-notch twist of action in the middle. Isabelle Fuhrman, who co-produced the film, stands out in the ambiguous role, the final shot sees her eyes change. She's accompanied by a solid set of good actors. In the finale music can be heard from both sides.