Ida

Music Box Films | Release Date: May 2, 2014

7.5	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 213 Ratings

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TVJerryJun 28, 2014

A young woman, who was raised in a convent, is sent to meet her only relative before taking her vows. Her trip reveals details about her past that change her life. This film is shot in black and white with a penchant for placing people low inA young woman, who was raised in a convent, is sent to meet her only relative before taking her vows. Her trip reveals details about her past that change her life. This film is shot in black and white with a penchant for placing people low in static frames. Everything happens slowly, with the type of solemn, somber tone that Europeans embrace in their cinema. This approach may appeal to those who appreciate the deliberate pace and quiet observations. In Polish with subtitles.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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GreatMartinJun 27, 2014

Not wanting to see “Transformers” or “22 Jump Street” or “Think Like A Man too” I was hoping I would see a gem going to The Gateway Theatre and seeing “Ida”.

“Ida” is a Polish film photographed as if it was filmed in 1962 when it takesNot wanting to see “Transformers” or “22 Jump Street” or “Think Like A Man too” I was hoping I would see a gem going to The Gateway Theatre and seeing “Ida”.

“Ida” is a Polish film photographed as if it was filmed in 1962 when it takes place. Three stories are intertwined with one being political regarding communism, Catholicism and being a Jew in Poland during WW2, the second regarding a novice about to take her vows and the third story regarding her aunt, who she wasn’t even aware of, who is Jewish as her mother was making the novice a Jew.

Aunt Wanda (Agata Kulesza) drinks too much, smokes too and has too much random sex due to her past as a zealot communist prosecutor, now a cynical judge, and other happenings, the exact opposite of her niece, Ida, (Agata Trzebuchowska) who wants to learn what happened to her parents during the war and why/how she ended up in a convent, before she takes her final vows.

I wasn’t interested in the political aspect of the film and except for one segment the story of Ida wasn’t that interesting to me as I wanted to learn more about her parents just as I wanted to know more about Wanda, her life before we met her and her family during the war. I wanted the movie to be all about Wanda as I found Agata Kulesza a fascinating actress but it isn’t my film but the director Pawel Pawlikowski who also co-wrote the script with Rebecca Lenkiewwicz.

In all fairness I must say most critics and people (oh come on, do you really think critics are people?) have been raving about the movie but then they liked Dawid Ogrodnil as a sax player in a band and I thought his part was just added on to show, not prove, a point.

Though a short movie for these days, only an hour and twenty minutes, the director lingered too long, too often, on many meaningless scenes such as cars on roads.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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43in2014Oct 31, 2014

Before watching this film: Went to see it because of the high critics score.

Pros: The usual art house type of stuff. Cons: 1. There's not much to the story. It's more about the mood and acting. Wish there was more to it. 2. The endingBefore watching this film: Went to see it because of the high critics score.

Pros: The usual art house type of stuff.

Cons: 1. There's not much to the story. It's more about the mood and acting. Wish there was more to it. 2. The ending is frustratingly open.

3/5 (No half scores) - Only good enough to watch on TV.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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mani8kgmSep 11, 2014

I have to say I was more than a little curious when I read the storyline. But the film, as it unfolds is just okay!
Not on my list of recommendations!

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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NickTheCritickNov 3, 2022

Poland, 1962. Anna is about to take her vows as a nun when she learns from her only relative that she is of Jewish origin. Both women embark on a journey to discover their family history. I expected more, Pawlikowski is as usual a technicallyPoland, 1962. Anna is about to take her vows as a nun when she learns from her only relative that she is of Jewish origin. Both women embark on a journey to discover their family history. I expected more, Pawlikowski is as usual a technically superb director but often he makes the mistake of putting history at the service of technique rather than putting technique at the service of history. The result is that he makes films like this: stylistically and technically flawless but that also turn out to be quite empty, soulless and forgettable.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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