Ida
Overview
In 1960s Poland, young novitiate Anna is on the verge of taking her vows when she discovers a family secret dating back to the years of the German occupation.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Set in communist Poland in 1962, Ida explores the aftermath of World War II and its impact on individual lives. The movie is based on the 'Auschwitz phenomenon', where some survivors struggled to reconcile their Jewish identity after the Holocaust.
- The film's powerful narrative and compelling storyline make it a must-watch.
- Ida boasts exceptional acting performances, particularly from Agata Trzebuchowska as the title character.
- The movie tackles deep themes such as faith, identity, and the consequences of history, which are sure to provoke thought.
- The black-and-white cinematography adds a haunting and atmospheric layer to the film.
Fun Facts
- The film was shot in just 25 days on a budget of $1.6 million.
- Ida won the Best Film award at the 31st European Film Awards and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
- The movie's title refers to Anna, the protagonist's religious name Ida, as well as the shortened form of the name 'Agata', which is the real name of the actress playing her.
Available Languages
English
US
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Español
ES
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Français
FR
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Deutsch
DE
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Pусский
RU
Title: Ида
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Italiano
IT
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Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
A beautifully shot story about a young woman who was abandoned to the church as a baby and is now about to take holy orders. Before she fully commits, however, she decides to trace her birth family. Agata Trzebuchowska ("Anna") alights on her aunt Agata Kulesza ("Wanda") - a former pillar of the post war Polish communist legal establishment, but now a rather dissolute character prone to drinking and one night stands, to help her find the truth. Her family story has some grisly history to it, but together they travel their country in search of some answers. En route, they pick up a hitchhiker "Lis" (David Ogrodnik) who (genuinely) plays tenor sax in a band that has a gig in their hotel with with whom she bonds - after a fashion - until their search is concluded and yet more tragedy strikes our novice nun. This film is wonderfully enigmatic - it is quite difficult to date; the script is taut but sparing; the monochrome effects render it an atmosphere all of it's own and despite the inevitability of the whole thing, there is still a degree of optimism and sincerity seeping through the prevailing timbre of sadness.
Oscar Awards
Wins
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM - 2014
None
Nominations
CINEMATOGRAPHY - 2014
Lukasz Zal, Ryszard Lenczewski
Media
Featurette
Mark Kermode reviews Ida (2014) | BFI Player
Featurette
"Ida" Wins Foreign Language Film: 2015 Oscars
Featurette
Writer/Drirector Pawel Pawlikowski talks about the framing of IDA