It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Scenography and pictures are well done, and it rescue movie form compleat disaster. Sadly there is nothing more positive one could say anles is politically motivated. It is another take after "Poklosie" (Aftermath -2012) weak and sad piece of misrepresentation of historical facts. Story is told without balance and proportion that should come when dealing with this kind of narreative. So like in "Aftermath". Again complex polish - jewish relationsships, are clumsily flattened into plot in with younger generation discovers mords committed by polish peasants on their neighbors during WWII. There is so little content in that movie, and so much time waisted, that could be used to educate american audience, like to speak out the true, about brutal german occupation, that was far worse from what countires in west europe had. Instead we have long minutes of looks in the eyes, and quiet and seedy speak. Simply boring. I'm not sure how much the problem was lack of proper budget, or if it was simply shaped to deliver product that would be supported by american jews.

Ida is a film I have thoroughly loved, and watched multiple times since it was released in the US a few years back. And after each time I view it, I discover something new from the film's subtle dialogue and symbolism(honestly, I think if I spoke Polish, I would have picked up on most of it after a viewing or two). Not only is it a great watch, adding a fresh perspective to the much covered topic of the Holocaust, but it, also, I believe, taps deeply into questions central to modern- day Polish national identity.The film's main focus is the investigation and interactions of the titular character and her aunt, in search of the brutal truth of what happened to their family during World War 2. Both characters are total(almost comically) opposites, a stiff, virginal, young nun and an old, sarcastic, heavy-drinking, and promiscuous communist judge(dealing solely with political crimes), infamously nicknamed "Iron Wanda".Their dichotomy is important in cordoning-off the two main themes the film explores through each character, the confrontation/void left by/effects of trauma(Aunt Wanda) and the search for/questioning of/choice of identity(Ida). Together, both characters discover the devastating truth, but, in doing so, make a deal that leaves them emotionally ruined(an ironic twist considering Wanda's profession and, most likely, her reason for choosing the job).The stark black & white color palette, confrontational close-ups, off-centered scene-framing, and total lack of musical accompaniment magnifies the discomfort and underlying sense of societal betrayal/injustice. Oddly, what seems to be at the center of the story, the events surrounding the Holocaust, are hardly discussed, instead, filled with long silences and empty spaces, communicating feelings of shame and guilt. A seemingly cosmic silence in response to such a horrible crime.What makes Ida unique is that it's a story filmed after the main drama has occurred, instead, focusing on its long-reaching impact. After coming full circle, learning the truth of her identity, and her parents past, both Ida and Wanda are left as weaker people, each imprisoned by a truth too difficult to confront.

delicacy is the basic virtue of a film who presents different bitter subjects in an inspired manner. a film about faith and roots. about life discovered by a fascinating character who seems very far by world's expectations. a film about love and sacrifice who reminds the grace and precision and science to explore the details of the cinema from the East. high lesson of cinema, it is an admirable exploration of the character's nuances. not only for the good cast or for the special art of script but for the force of silence , looks and sound of the words. a film about a young woman front with a new perspective. and her way to self definition. and the gestures who transforms the challenges.

Poland, like the rest of Europe, has made movies focusing on its experience under Nazi occupation. Paweł Pawlikowski's "Ida" looks at a young woman about to take her vows in 1962 who discovers that she was born a Jew. She proceeds to try and find out the whole story.The movie drew criticism from various factions in Poland. One allegation is that it depicts the Poles as willing collaborators with the Nazis. Another is that it portrays Jews as willing collaborators with the Soviet-backed regime. I'd say that a better description is that it shows how there were different kinds of people in both eras. Just as there were Poles who aided the Nazis, there were Poles who helped the Jews. Just as there were people who collaborated with Moscow's puppets, there were people who resisted it.The point is, this is a very well made movie. The black-and-white cinematography emphasizes the existence that people lived in 1960s Poland, a combination of the Nazis' atrocities from twenty years earlier (including the leveling of Warsaw) and the Soviet-backed regime's atrocities. It was appropriate that this was Poland's first winner of Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, along with a number of other awards. I highly recommend the movie, and I hope to see more movies from this director.