In 2013 Polish filmmaker Paweł Pawlikowski released the brilliantly concise and thoroughly evocative “Ida”. It was a haunting movie filled with beauty and intrigue. Also it was the first Polish picture to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It took five years but we finally have his follow-up and it’s just as mysterious and tantalizing.
“Cold War” is a much different film than Pawlikowski’s previous effort but you’ll quickly recognize some of the same artistic choices that made “Ida” so visually arresting. Once again he teams with cinematographer Lukasz Zal who shoots in gorgeous black-and-white and uses the desaturated palette to convey the mood of a postwar Poland struggling under the weight of Communism. This time even more emphasis is put on the strategic use of shadows and lighting.
The Warsaw-born Pawlikowski tells a story loosely based on the tempestuous and constantly intersecting romance of his own parents from whom the two lead characters take their names. Structurally it moves from point to point along the relationship timeline of Wiktor (Tomasz Kot) and Zula (Joanna Kulig). Their earnest yet troubled romance serves as the film’s centerpiece.
The story opens in 1949 with Wiktor and his colleague Irena (played by the excellent and underused Agata Kulesza) visiting rural villages to find undiscovered singing talent for their state-sponsored folk music project. Those chosen are brought to a school to be trained for an upcoming tour. It’s here that Wiktor is drawn to young Zula. He sees something special in her and his curiosity quickly turns to captivation.
Telling too much more would hurt the experience, but let’s just say their mutual attraction grows into a romance – passionate and sincere but troubled from the start. Pawlikowski skips across their timeline making stops in Warsaw, Paris, and Yugoslavia. Along the way we watch Wiktor and Zula separate, reunite, and then separate again all amid an ever-changing European post-war landscape (something else Pawlikowski and Zal capture with incredible clarity through their lens).
From early on you can sense that “Cold War” is a deeply personal story. It’s a love story that is both romantic and tragic. Two fine lead performances drive the central relationship which is filled with intense passion but also missed opportunities at every turn. At the same time Pawlikowski has several things to say about the time period and much of it is vividly told through his camera. That extra layer is what pushes “Cold War” into truly special territory.
VERDICT – 4.5 STARS
Keith & the Movies 
It’s odd. When I first saw Cold War back in May, it left me feeling a bit cold; I did like the movie and appreciated the movie’s visuals and acting, but Pawlikowski’s story didn’t initially connect with me like Ida did beforehand. But after a reevaluation, I do believe that Cold War is a great picture. Although I was not upset the Academy awarded Cuaron with the Oscar this year, I would have preferred it to have gone to Pawlikowski.
This was one of those cases of a movie never opening around me. I think we have discussed the frustrations with release schedules. This was a prime example. So glad to finally see it. It’s interesting how it changed for you over time. I do think I liked Ida better.
I saw this last week and loved it, Keith. I was a fan of Ida and think Pawlikowski did a marvelous job. I love the character Zula. She was enchanting.
She really was, wasn’t she? I found myself enamored with their relationship. It was both beautiful and tragic. Did you see it on Amazon?
Yes.
Same here…FINALLY!
I do want to see this as I’ve seen a couple of films by Pawlikowski as the subject matter and setting has me intrigued.
Hope you can soon. It’s really worth seeking out. Did you like “Ida”?
Yes, I saw it years ago. The other Pawlikowski film I saw was My Summer of Love.
Oh I haven’t seen that one. I should look it up.
I’m sure it’s available somewhere as it is one of the first films to feature Emily Blunt.
Oh my!!! You just amped my interest up 1000%!!!!!
I will add it to our list to watch. Thanks for the review.
Hey man! Definitely give it a look. It was hard for me to find but I’m glad I eventually did. Visually stunning for sure.
I will add this to the list for the wife and I to watch. Thanks for the review….
-Paris
Let me know what you guys think.
Great review!
I also watched the movie and wrote about it in my blog, but in less enthusiastic terms… I wasn’t blown away by the story, I don’t like this sort of love stories where the two always hurt each other, I guess. Another example is Phantom thread.
I can understand that. It’s bruising for sure. I’ll be sure to get by and check out your thoughts.
Thank you! :–)
Cold War sounds like a beautifully made film. I missed this at the theatres, but I’m hoping to get it on disc/blu-ray.
It never hit theaters here so I had to wait for Amazon Prime. What a perfect time for a free trial! 😂
I’m so in love with this movie…it totally wrecked me though. I had zero expectations, and it blew me away. Great review (:
Thank you! SO glad I was FINALLY able to see it. It’s both tragic and magnetic. Painful and romantic. And the cinematography…WOW.