Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Ida: Search for identity!

Ida is a Polish film which won Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Category at the recently held Academy Awards. And it deserves the accolades for its sensitivity in dealing with the subject. The film is the story of a young nun Anna (played by Agata Trzebuchowska) who was orphaned during the World War II. She is now determined to meet her aunt and find out about her parents, before she could take her religious vows.






 Film Clip
Director: Paweł Pawlikowski
The journey, though, takes her to hitherto uninhabited terrains and situations, which she finds both revelatory as well as momentary. Even as she discovers how her parents were killed, she is not disturbed beyond a point about the events that took place in the past and shows remarkable calm and composure. Even when she comes to know that she was born a Jew, she is not overtly amazed and thus does not indulge in exaggerated emotions.
And that perhaps is the strength of the film. Throughout, one gets to witness characters contrasting in nature, yet not resorting to undue pomposity. They go about their role play nonchalantly, giving the film its richness and artistic value.
Agatha, the young nun, is just the right character to play the role of a courageous and indifferent girl. Her performance has elevated the character, and of course the film, a notch or two higher in quality. Full marks to director Paweł Pawlikowski for his effective handling of script and screenplay.
- Melwyn Pinto SJ