Sweat

Name: Sweat
Genre: Drama
Released: June 18, 2021
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Aleksandra Konieczna, Dominika Biernat, Julian Swiezewski, Katarzyna Dziurska, Lech Lotocki

2021

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Ratings

See All

5.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5.4	Your Score
5.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

MUBI | Release Date: June 18, 2021 | Not Rated

Starring: Aleksandra Konieczna, Dominika Biernat, Julian Swiezewski, Katarzyna Dziurska, Lech Lotocki, Magdalena Kolesnik, Magdalena Kuta, Tomasz Orpinski, Wiktoria Filus, Zbigniew Zamachowski

Summary: Beloved fitness influencer Sylwia (Magdalena Koleśnik) seemingly has it made: hundreds of thousands of social media followers, endorsement deals, photo spreads in magazines. But as she starts to share more and more online, the rising pressure from concerned sponsors and increasingly obsessive fans forces her to confront her deepestBeloved fitness influencer Sylwia (Magdalena Koleśnik) seemingly has it made: hundreds of thousands of social media followers, endorsement deals, photo spreads in magazines. But as she starts to share more and more online, the rising pressure from concerned sponsors and increasingly obsessive fans forces her to confront her deepest insecurities and the exhaustive demands of her lifestyle.
… Expand

Director: Magnus von Horn

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 106 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Guy Lodge

Jun 18, 2021

With her eerily flawless image and pathological narcissism, it would be all too easy to make Sylwia a monstrous figure of fun — yet the more circumstances turn against her, the more nuance and moral curiosity von Horn and Koleśnik find beneath her hyper-contoured surface. Read full review

Ray Lobo

Jun 18, 2021

In the hands of a less capable director and actor, the thriller elements would be squeezed out to the very last drop; the film would be yet another tired exercise in suspense. That is not what Sweat is going for. It is not trying to make you breathless from cheap tension; its goal is to leave you breathless from an aesthetic and storytelling perspective. Without a doubt, it achieves that goal. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Jul 1, 2020

The most intense look at a social media-obsessed loner since “Eighth Grade,” Swedish director Von Horn’s Polish-language feature finds its character wrestling with the nature of her popularity, until she’s forced to confront the disconnect between her public and personal existence in vivid detail. Read full review

Wendy Ide

Jul 1, 2020

This accomplished and satisfyingly hard-edged drama harnesses the monetised narcissism of influencer culture and looks beneath the gloss to find an ache of emptiness. Read full review

Deborah Young

Jul 8, 2020

In her first leading role, Kolesnik is as irresistible as an energy bar, exploring the Insta-queen’s shallow depths with cunning sincerity. Rather inevitably, she overshadows the rest of the pro cast. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Whitney Spencer

Jun 18, 2021

Von Horn has crafted an impressive art film that tells a story outside of the pathological narcissism commonly associated with the world of social media influencers. Even surrounded by the alarmingly curated lifestyle, von Horn and Koleśnik together bring to life a story with more nuance, sophistication and genuine moral curiosity than we’ve seen from the genre. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Jun 23, 2021

This film isn’t really sure where it’s taking us and how, or if, it wants to surprise us, and the key scene with Klaudiusz doesn’t work. Read full review

SEE ALL 14 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Feb 13, 2022

This is ultimately a film about sexual violence in the age of social media influencers. It highlights the artificiality of such peoples public personas and what they may have to deal with but don't share with others . Its quite thought provoking and memorable. Its perhaps a little bleak butThis is ultimately a film about sexual violence in the age of social media influencers. It highlights the artificiality of such peoples public personas and what they may have to deal with but don't share with others . Its quite thought provoking and memorable. Its perhaps a little bleak but its not choc full of gory violence or similar, thankfully, though it won't appeal to many people for understandable reasons, so be aware of the main themes when/if deciding to watch this. I thought the main character was very well portrayed by Magdalena Kolesnik. I imagine there will be many films to come about such popular 'influencers' and what they may deal with as a result of their sudden/apparent rush to fame online. The plot takes some intriguing twists and it reminded me (if slightly) of Promising Young Woman about it, although I should say that the protagonist isn't expressly out for revenge as such. Its a film that ends, if anything, perhaps surprisingly quickly at the end but I'd say its a worthy watch, that didn't feel entirely (or overly) too over the top or exploitative, so yes I'd recommend this film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bertobellamy

Jul 24, 2021

I liked the visual approach, but the film makes Sylwia look like someone or something is forcing her to be like that. I mean, it's not that they've just discovered that not everything is as it seems. Director Magnus von Horn doesn't make any judgments, but the stance proves to be very mildI liked the visual approach, but the film makes Sylwia look like someone or something is forcing her to be like that. I mean, it's not that they've just discovered that not everything is as it seems. Director Magnus von Horn doesn't make any judgments, but the stance proves to be very mild and not that interesting. Sylwia even says that it all could go away with just the click of a button, so why wouldn't she do it? Why make a video about how lonely you are and not take action? 'Sweat' tries to convince us that influencers are humans too, but I just couldn't connect with the "see, they have problems like you, but still get everything for free and promote stupid things people don't need."

What I really liked here is the idea of capitalism vs communism; the new way vs. the old, represented in the strained relationship between Sylwia and her mother.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Jul 24, 2021

Sometimes irony is a **** but Sweat reminded me of a real case that happened just a few weeks ago, here in my hometown in which a "fitness influencer" underwent a special treatment that would prevent her from sweating.
Incredible but true.
She died in the table due to a reaction from theSometimes irony is a **** but Sweat reminded me of a real case that happened just a few weeks ago, here in my hometown in which a "fitness influencer" underwent a special treatment that would prevent her from sweating.
Incredible but true.

She died in the table due to a reaction from the anesthesia, and it all ended there for her.
She was just 23 years old.

Sweat tries to make you empathize with the situation that these people live by the line of work they have chosen, and I cannot deny the extremes that some go to for their audience, but that's precisely the heart of the matter.

Everything for them hangs in the balance, depending on a handful of likes.

Food for thought.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mauro_Lanari

Jul 17, 2022

(Mauro Lanari)
The fluid identity inextricably composed of real life ("irl") and virtual ("VR")/digital one has now become our new everyday existence, so I am amazed by the hypertrophic storytelling of Polish cinematography (see also Jan Komasa's "The Hater"), its excessive fictionalization(Mauro Lanari)
The fluid identity inextricably composed of real life ("irl") and virtual ("VR")/digital one has now become our new everyday existence, so I am amazed by the hypertrophic storytelling of Polish cinematography (see also Jan Komasa's "The Hater"), its excessive fictionalization of the repercussions on social media of late adolescent problems when we are already full of true stories of influencers and spin doctors to be translated into biopics. Maybe they have no phenomena like the Ferragnez or the Casalino? I doubt it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 4 REVIEWS