Pawel Pawlikowski who won the Academy Award for Ida in 2013, once again received a great deal of attention for his film Cold War.
The title Cold War sounds promising, as this time was full of intrigues and there were many stories stranger than fiction connected to the period. But unfortunately the film leaves one with a feeling of disappointment — first of all, the script is weak and ends up being a mess; the motivation of the characters is lacking and all actions of the heroes are stupid, confusing and unconvincing. The director wants to convince the audience that they are witnessing a dramatic love story, but there is no chemistry between the main characters. The so-called love story consists of not particularly exciting sex scenes which seem overplayed and inauthentic. The lead actress Joanna Kulig lacks charisma and we do not feel chemistry between the lead actors. The same things happen again and again – lovers meet, have sex, argue over something, and separate. And when this kind of structural repetition becomes boring, the audience has the right to ask; why these two people want to be together?
The film is a tribute to the love story of Pawlikowski’s parents. It is possible that the director could not, and did not want to be completely sincere, and that important details of the real story were left behind and therefore the motivations of the characters are unclear and confusing; for example, why Zula is released from Poland and why does she return there. The plot does not make sense. It is possible that she was a secret agent, but the audience can only guess. This part of the story, Pawlikowski does not wish to, or cannot disclose about his parents. These half-truths are worse than complete fabrications. Additionally the film is too boring and long. In the end of the film the couple gets married in an old church and then take pills, probably committing suicide. Why? For what? It is absolutely baffling and not convincing, the scene does not provoke any feeling, nor regret, nor compassion.
The script is dull and revolves around one single thing: the love of the two protagonists, the eternal love which is proclaimed but not shown, as there are no interesting dialogues, nor character development. There’s also very little about the political aspects of those times.
The film is stylish, but cold. The positive aspect of the film is its aesthetic, however the cinematography is not as interesting as in Ida; too many symmetrical compositions give the film the feeling of claustrophobia. The impression one gets is that the director is attempting to repeat himself and is afraid or experimenting. There is no meaning or depth to be discovered behind the glossy picture, the more you watch it the more superficial the film feels, like its has been made from fragments borrowed from other films.
The film might have some visually attractive parts, but as a whole it does not leave any strong impression and is just another mediocre film which pretends to be art but does not have the depth or sincerity of a true masterpiece.
