Movie reviews

عنکبوت مقدس (HOLY SPIDER)

Recommended. Shot in Jordan, set in Mashhad, Iran 2000-2001, inspired by true events. Directed and produced by علی عباسی (Ali Abbasi), known for the 2018 "Gräns" ("Border"). The first half is an engaging thriller but not much different from numerous American movies about serial killers. The religious and social background of Iran doesn't change the journalist versus the police investigation formula. But mid-way comes a major twist. And it's the society at large, as well as the culprit and victims' families' reactions that take you aback. The finale, with علی (Ali), the murderer's son, hits hard. No wonder it was Oscar-shortlisted. Just like in previous year winning "Drive My Car', a stretched-out hand plays a role in one scene. It's a hand and his tool of murder, while the manner he holds it resembles a Muslim prayer. Here the rain purifies the city. Actor مهدی بجستانی (Mehdi Bajestani) as سعید(Saeed) is impressively versatile within one role: kind-hearted, violent, stately, obsessive.

MINUTA CISZY (A MINUTE OF SILENCE) EP. 2

Recommended. Less humorous than episode 1, it shows the dog-eat-dog world of the undertakers' business. The finale is powerful and thought-provoking.

Seen courtesy of Canal +.

ORLY FESTIVAL 2023 - POLISH FILM AWARDS CANDIDATES

NAJGLOSNIEJ SLYCHAC MILCZENIE (SILENCE HEARD LOUD)

Watchable. Shot in London, it's still a Polish documentary. Refugees' musings, their songs, prayers, in alternate order, lead to confusion as to who is who and where their experiences took place. It's a searing look at how host countries fail to save the refugees. The overall picture is horrifying: detention centres for non-criminals, traumas that brought them to Europe in the first place, the widespread patriarchy in the world, violence they suffer. It defies belief how strong they are, living in adversity all their lives, having to prove themselves constantly. Shame it's by some Pole. It is emotional, tear-inducing a couple of times, yet the form lets this film down big time. It's slow-paced, it's easy to drift away and lose the plot. The BBC would have shot the same much more comprehensibly and lively.

AFTERSUN

Watchable. For a bigger part it's a dull story of a family vacation. A cheap British resort in Turkey, a loving dad and his smart 11 year old daughter. Only the finale sheds light - in dark-lit scenes - on the point of the whole movie. The ending is poignant. Still, the preceding 1.5 hours are not entirely happy. The whole plot feels as cheap as the resort. A meagre, banal, protracted movie about a meagre holiday. 

ORLY FESTIVAL 2023 - POLISH FILM AWARDS CANDIDATES

CUDOWNE ZYCIE (WONDERFUL LIFE)

Watchable. Highly entertaining in form, wonderfully acted, especially by Jan Sobolewski, a bit empty in meaningful content other than what should be done with our bodies after death. The whole content revolves around the relationship between our body and psyche. Director Błażej Grzechnik and the silent actor Jan Sobolewski are some of the voices on the phone. The mother (Małgorzata Witkowska) looks like Cate Blanchett. Joyful music, fantastically selected, the fun stays in your head. 

I was 2 minutes late but before the title. Not sure what I missed.

LOT (FLIGHT)

Watchable. A bit protracted and quite limited. Little context is given. 70 minutes of the artist himself and a handful of his performances and installations. Little explanation is offered for his concepts. At least some commentators are the fames of the Polish art world like Paweł Althamer or Katarzyna Kozyra.

MASZ CI LOS! AND Q&A WITH PRODUCER RADOSLAW DRABIK

The producer Radek Drabik is aware 95-98% of viewers will see it at home. Director Mateusz Głowacki had made some short films earlier, e.g. "Kiedy ranne wstają zorze" ("When the Light of Dawn Arises"). The producers had a boring meeting with the director over a coffee so they finally asked: "A co tam w życiu?" ("And how's life?") and heard that his family would put little objects into a pocket of their deceased. Hence the idea for the movie. Both the director and Radek Drabik were writing the script for 2 years. Privately the actor is Sonia Bohosiewicz's husband - she saw him in a coffin.

Watchable. Technically perfect, one of few Polish films where all the dialogue is audible, even the initial mumbled part. Thoroughly engaging. But why so serious? OK, it is realistic but too obvious to be amusing. Some slapstick like hitting the priest with a cross made me laugh. But most jokes are corny. Robert Wabich is a Tomasz Karolak lookalike.

ORLY FESTIVAL 2023 - POLISH FILM AWARDS CANDIDATES

MATECZNIK (THE HATCHER)

Recommended. Disturbing and relatively slow-paced. The atmosphere is like in Γιώργος Λάνθιμος' (Yorgos Lanthimos') "The Killing of a Sacred Deer". Two people in a flat, the woman teaches the young man the life outside while he can't leave the flat. The lessons amount to psychological and sexual violence. Weird but compelling. A powerful psychological drama. 

FENOMEN (PHENOMENON)

Recommended. This documentary about Jurek Owsiak, produced by Dominika Kulczyk, is emotionally-charged, truly moving a few times. Initially it appears as if random events were mentioned but they show this amazing grassroots movement and an unstoppable force of good will.