FIGURANT (STRAWMAN)

Watchable. I missed the first few minutes so can't comment on the very opening. This black and white movie blends seamlessly with archive footage, blurring the lines between history and its enaction, but the plot is painfully simplistic and the film drags. Even the investigation is boring. Mateusz Więcławek skillfully portrays whatever complexity there is of his protagonist, using his facial expressions he complicates a bit his banally simple character, but there's only nominal tension in the last half an hour. Everyone's actions are uniform - within each character. Even if life was simpler in the 1960s, it doesn't sell well nowadays. But, gripes aside, top-notch sound, stylisation and the lead actor's aging by Waldemar Pokromski are perfectly fine. I also respect the way the disabled and other ethnicities are presented. 

WARSAW FILM FESTIVAL

WARSZTATY SZTUKA MONTAZU (THE ART OF FILM EDITING WORKSHOP) BY BEATA DZIANOWICZ AND RAFAL LISTOPAD

The director/writer and the editor of "Strzępy" talked about their co-operation. "Jałowe przebiegi" (idling) were normal when working on the project. A director makes 1 movie in 3 years, an editor 2-3 movies per year, a dresser over 157, so a director is the least experienced. The characters had full back stories since birth so the actors, the costume designer, the set decorator surprised her with how they made use of the info. Director Beata Dzianowicz recommended Łoziński's "Wszystko się może przytrafić" ("Anything Can Happen") which made me immediately apprehensive since I had walked out from that. The 3-hour workshop was little to the point. 

SUR L'ADAMANT (ON THE ADAMANT)

Watchable in pieces. For the location. I got to the screening 16 minutes late and don't regret it. What they say is all boring - only one piece of information may be useful: that with modern sewing machines you don't need to thread the needle. But the day centre for the mentally ill is stylish and comfy.  It's right on the Seine opposite the fashion design centre and across the Off Seine 4-star hotel. 

TEMPETE (RIDE ABOVE)

Watchable. I haven't read the novel it's based on: "Tempête au Haras" by Chris Donner. The movie is a formulaic family tale about overcoming one's limitations and about racing: horseback or modern-day horse-chariot so it'll appeal to horse lovers the most. But it's very pleasant on the whole. Warm colours, wonderful cinematography make everything look beautiful in all weather and seasons. The good ones win and (mild) villains learn a lesson. Heart-warming.

THE EQUALIZER 3

Recommended. You don't need to have seen earlier instalments. Even without the one flashback it's easy to follow this movie. The part where Roberto's settling in enraptures, the people are so amiable you want to move to Altomonte, Italy yourself. But what lies beneath is the petrifying amount of corruption, mafia brutality. Roberto's (Denzel Washington) stance convinces you of his knowledge, skills and mental resilience. The plot is well-structured but what's outstanding is mostly Robert Richardson's top-notch cinematography: vistas of Altomonte, people's faces, especially in the interrogation scene or when people's silhouettes are shown. Good people versus villains, it's a fairy-tale for adults, especially the way the finale's filmed is nearly miraculous, yet consistent with the realism of the film. Impeccably executed. Everyone, oops, everything. 

AFTER EVERYTHING

Watchable. Hero Fiennes Tiffin co-produced this part. The movie wittily reminds you of his earlier impersonation, when his mate remarks:  "Look who's risen from the dead" - dejected Hardin looks like the zombie from the actor's earlier flick "The Loneliest Boy in the World". The 5th "After" film is about the best. Hardin makes amends, pines over his lost love. His father finally has a role to play too, adding meaning to the story and the character. Shot in Portugal and Bulgaria, it has a holiday feel. Glam cinematography, riches make for a pleasant viewing. Flashbacks help refresh the story after years. The last scene though, with Josephine Langford in a wig, as Tessa pregnant and with a kid welcoming dad home is cringeworthy. It detracts from the raunchy and touching love story.

FESTIWAL PRZEMIANY (PRZEMIANY FESTIVAL)

I AM HUMAN

Watchable. There are 100 bn neurons in the brain which is the same number as the old estimate of the number of galaxies in the universe and each neuron is as complex as Los Angeles, as we hear in this documentary. Yet the rest is less inspiring. 3 disabled people gain new chances of recovery through brain implants with varied results: Parkinson's disease treatment being the most promising, regaining one's vision the least. It appears movement is the easiest to re-control. The film is slow-paced with lots of focus on protagonists rather than on science. Ends in scientific hopes.

DE HUMANI CORPORIS FABRICA

Watchable. An unflinching look at a mortuary, a dissection of an amputated breast, a close look at dementia, operations of a penis, an overgrown prostate, an eye, a brain (if I guessed all these right, because no explanations are given), doctors' daily frustrations - hard to watch, brutal but uniquely insightful. Scary how we may happen to be at the mercy of others, also imperfect, humans.

20.000 ESPECIES DE ABEJAS (20,000 SPECIES OF BEES)

Walked out. Only 1 bee in the first 36 minutes. Instead boring family talks, plenty of little children, peeing, breastfeeding even in a swimming pool scene. Revolting.

ROZYCZKA 2 (THE SECRET OF LITTLE ROSE)

Watchable. No need to have seen the first movie. It's perfectly comprehensible even if you haven't. It also doesn't encourage you to check out the prequel. What is it about? Poland doesn't have individualism but familism, especially politicians are often judged by what their parents were or did decades earlier so in this country this bizarre plot actually makes sense. One shot wonderfully demonstrates this predicament when you see the politician's reflection in her father's portrait. The movie's in 2/3 drama, in 1/3 thriller, but fully predictable and ruined by the slow pace of seemingly modern, let alone politicians', life. In 2/3 it's sappy, which is enhanced by the music by Bartosz Chajdecki, in the last third even the music gets better. But all in all, the 106 minutes drag. 

MLODE HORYZONTY (YOUNG HORIZONS) FILM FESTIVAL

ZEEVONK (SEA SPARKLE)

Watchable. Maintained in a calm mood, it tells about daily lives on the sea in the Netherlands. Death happens but the sea is forever. Occasional glimpses of sea creatures, fantastical rather than real, attract visually at times, the rest is mundane. 

ROBOT DREAMS

Recommended. This Spanish-French animation tells about a New Yorker and his humanoid robot. Roller skates dancers were hired to create the Central Park dance scene. But the whole film is a deeply moving animation about loneliness and missing someone once you've met the right person but had to part. This mutual friendship is so deep it's more appropriate to call it love. Sorrowful but beautiful.

I was 2 minutes late and also missed the very last scene when I got distracted by a kid out of control. 

KROL (THE KING OF WARSAW) S. 1 EP. 1

Switched off. Judaism, mindless violence, Polish political history, nationalism unsettlingly resembling our times, the brutal fights of large groups resembling "Gangs of New York", modern-day-like foul language - nothing interesting or pleasant. Jewish soldiers smuggle cocaine - nonsense. 

This episode is available free of charge on Canal+ online.

MIALO CIE NIE BYC (YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE)

Recommended. The film shows how common abortion is and how many kids were born unwanted. Smart dialogue, great acting, especially by Borys Szyc and Sonia Szyc, hard issues are tackled in a light tone. There's even a decent dance choreography. It's all well-paced. 

Young director Kuba Michalczuk, direct and approachable, says we've got plenty of profound movies so he wanted to avoid moral preaching, he prefers to talk to the viewer rather.

MLODE HORYZONTY (YOUNG HORIZONS) FILM FESTIVAL

MINI LAB

A whole room with stands where you could construct a city or look for objects in a game, see how the green screen technique works in films, shoot your own videos with props or try out stop-motion animation in live filming, watch kaleidoscopes, old type animation techniques, dance to a screen responding with colours. VR consisted of short films and interactive activities: one animation charted the history of cinema, another one told a robot tale of Stanisław Lem's, you could also steer a story playing rock, paper, scissors, kayak among views from all over the world day or night in all weathers or change the surroundings with your voice. Great fun. All the activities took about 1.5 hours in total.

KICIA KOCIA POD CHOINKE - ZESTAW: 

KICIA KOCIA - ZIMA, KICIA KOCIA GOTUJE, KICIA KOCIA W POCIAGU, KICIA KOCIA SPRZATA, KICIA KOCIA W BIBLIOTECE, KICIA KOCIA NIE MOZE ZASNAC

Recommended. Charming Kicia Kocia gets to know the world again. This time the activities are more leisurely: playing outside, making cookies, travelling, reading and even washing root vegetables for soup and cleaning are made into the fun of exploration. 40 minutes are enough for the youngest children but I felt a tinge of regret when the series ended. It was available in Polish only.

NINA ET LE SECRET DU HERISSON (NINA AND THE HEDGEHOG'S SECRET)

Watchable. This family drama turns into an engaging crime story. It doesn't shy away from adult issues like fraud or unemployment. But the animals - nice or not - are the most fun. 

Occasional harsh jazz assaults your ears. 

ILE ZA SZTUKE? (HOW MUCH FOR ART?)

Recommended. A thorough documentary about the art market in Poland. It charts its history since the 80s, when there was none. up to now. It presents a few of the highest grossing contemporary artists, collectors, gallery owners and an auction house to put their bits to the picture of the what and how and the hardest question to answer: why. Even in this market, female artists earn 2-3 less than their male counterparts at the same stage of professional development. Attractive visually and in the sound layer, the film almost smothers you with plenty of exquisite artworks of old masters and the brave new generations. It's dynamic and bold. Superb.

WARSAW FILM FESTIVAL

CHCESZ POKOJU, SZYKUJ SIE DO WOJNY (PRAY FOR PEACE, TRAIN FOR WAR)

Switched off. OMG is it moronic. Agnieszka Elbanowska and Łukasz Czapski's script is full of low brow attempts at humour, actors are amateurish. Some weird voluntary army unit for inexplicable reason is training civilians and does so by extensive bullying. What's the purpose of this ludicrous film?! And whoever has selected it for the Warsaw Film Festival where it premiered?!

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

CHLOPI (THE PEASANTS)

Recommended. 5 years of international co-operation are paying off. It's different than "Twój Vincent" ("Loving Vincent"), since it was first shot with actors, props, on locations, then painted over and the gaps filled in. Folk music creates a unique climate to the production. But most of all, based on the Nobel-winning novel by Reymont, it's a powerful story encompassing a range of issues: some historical Polish, most versatile. Psychology of social groups lies at the core. The power struggle glues you to the screen. Deeply internalised patriarchy, people's pettiness are masterfully presented. Most harrowing though is the central story of Jagna whose beauty is her curse. It's the Polish Oscar candidate.

MLODE HORYZONTY (YOUNG HORIZONS) FILM FESTIVAL

怪物 (MONSTER) AND Q&A WITH PSYCHOLOGISTS JOANNA SZULC AND IWONA ZABIELSKA

Watchable. Directed by 是枝 裕和 (Hirokazu Kore-eda) so quite dull. A more complex version of Belgian "Close" if you get to the point. But at face value it's a story of school bullying. It's told thrice, from 3 points of view. The 2nd already clarifies a lot. The essence of the truth is gradually revealed in the 3rd. So structure-wise it's like Korean "아가씨" ("The Handmaiden") but much more ordinary. The thing is this movie's not about an intrigue. It's rather the same mundane story told from different perspectives. And that means everyone involved, in fact more than just 3 people, sees it differently and each person has their own problem. Seemingly about kids, those behaviours are true for adults too. Nearly everyone turns out to be good which is comforting and kind-of brings back faith in humans.

A highly expert analysis by the two lady psychologists followed the screening. The most interesting observations were: by child psychologist Joanna Szulc: "He accuses the teacher who will neither exact revenge nor will get hurt." and that for both single parents "a disease" labels "otherness".

WARSAW JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

The closing movie was:

HA'MISHLAHAT (DELEGATION)

Watchable. Israeli teenagers on a school tour of shoah reminders travel through Poland. They're preoccupied with their flings, they sing, joke, occasionally mention their future plans. The past only reaches them fleetingly when they're made listen to survivors' testimonies and when death camp visits jug their imagination. Most don't give any thought to it, some decide to experience contemporary Poland on their own or locate the past horror among modern silly activities. The grandfather's never finished tale starts with him being in love, just like some teenage protagonists are. All the film says is that youngsters' love affairs and desire for fun outweigh the burden of mementos. Not too bad a flick for compulsory school groups but I can't see much of any other target audience.

MLODE HORYZONTY (YOUNG HORIZONS) FILM FESTIVAL

KATAK, THE BRAVE BELUGA

Watchable. This Canadian animation about the pains of growing up teaches children about some beluga behaviours and for entertainment purposes features two funny seals and a wonderful big-nosed sturgeon. Basically it offers a "Finding Nemo"-like set of characters which works well but feels trite and monotonous, also the picture is kinda constant. Delightful gentle music accompanies the story. At some point "hasta la vista" is uttered in the English original. So it seems the Polish dialogue is more children-appropriate since it avoids both foul language and connotations from movies which are above the target audience age. 

PATTIE ET SA COLERE DE POSEIDON (ARGONUTS / EPIC TAILS)

Watchable. This movie has more detailed animation and tells about cute mouse Pattie, a pleasant fat ginger cat and funny ninja rats. But at some point the protagonists meet cyclops which are fat, green like Shrek and with red cherokee hairstyles (originally, in mythology, they were part horses) and use some machinery - it all makes no sense. On the other hand the rat mafia is fun, it's run by Don Carmine who asks for "a favour you can't refuse". You also hear "hasta la vista" at some point. The music consists of pleasant 80s pop and John Williams's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" theme, though the songs in the film are dubbed in Polish, only the end credit one is in English. There's an important mid-credit. 

KUTOPPEN - PA SPORET (A MYSTERY ON THE CASTLE HILL EXPRESS)

Watchable. Chickolina, Cowman Islands, Agatha Christensen are Easter eggs for adults. The Polish version offers a Polish song, in general the music is varied: from truly good to bland. On the whole it's entertaining, with serious undertone about seeds. The only problem is, this detective cartoon doesn't show the clues so you cannot try and solve the riddle on your own which severely detracts from the fun.

TOTEM

Walked out. This drama presents mundane daily life of a Mexican family, less mundane only through the fact one person has cancer, one is disabled, one is an alcoholic. Pair that with unduly intimate details like physiology. And the whole thing is thorough, as if in real time so it drags. And it lacks a point. 

KRUK (RAVEN) S. 1 EP. 1

Watchable. Starts weird until a shocking incident explains what was going on and why. Subsequent events also follow the pattern of: weird, makes sense, weird, makes sense. It's often disturbing and the violence repeatedly inexplicable at first which makes it difficult to follow both emotionally and intellectually. I still don't know what those drugs are about - why is he taking them and is he? Bizarre folk but non-Polish songs mar this weirdness even more. At least the ceiling robbery makes sense.

This episode is available free of charge on Canal+ online.