Dir. Paweł Pawlikowski (trailer)
Cold War takes place in a post-World War II Poland and follows a couple as they set out on a fraught romance and is based partially on director Pawel Pawlikowski's parents. Wiktor, a musician holding singing tryouts for a state-sponsored music troupe meets Zula, a mysterious woman hiding out in the country side and they begin a fiery relationship. As the troupe gains success and Zula becomes the star of the ensemble, her and Wiktor's relationship continues to grow. When they plan to escape to West Berlin after a performance and Zula fails to show up, Wiktor crosses alone, beginning a cycle of the two finding and losing each other over the course of many years.
The film's plot is one that has been done many times before, but the personal touch from Pawlikowski takes it to another level and makes it feel entirely new. The beautiful black and white cinematography creates a dazzling view of the nightlife in Europe, especially as the film becomes set in Parisian nightclubs. The performances are absolutely transcendent and will completely pull you into the film's world as the years fly by and leave you wanting to stay in the film forever.
For those who typically don't watch foreign films, this is a great movie to start with as the film has a short runtime and is so enjoyable to watch. Cold War is truly a movie that needs to be seen to be understood and I recommend it to all fans who love classic cinema as well as timeless romance.
Rating: ★★★★★
Recommended for fans of: drama, Doctor Zhivago (1965), romance, A Star is Born (2018), A Hidden Life (2019)
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