Pora umierac (2007)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Dorota Kedzierzawska

Writer:

Dorota Kedzierzawska (writer)

Release Date:

19 October 2007 (Poland)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Old Lady | Family Relationships | Generation Gap | Shakespearean Quote | Death

Awards:

6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Danuta Szaflarska	...	Aniela
Krzysztof Globisz	...	Aniela's Son
Marta Waldera	...	Aniela's Daughter-in-Law
Patrycja Szewczyk	...	Aniela's Granddaughter
Agnieszka Podsiadlik	...	Girl
Piotr Ziarkiewicz	...	Trebacz
Kamil Bitau	...	Dostojewski
Kai Schoenhals	...	Aniela's Neighbour
Weronika Karwowska	...	Aniela's Neighbour
Malgorzata Rozniatowska	...	Doctor
Wit Kaczanowski Jr.	...	Young Aniela's Son
Joanna Szarkowska	...	Young Aniela
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Tomaszewski

Also Known As:

Time to Die (Canada: English title)

Runtime:

Canada:104 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Poland

Language:

Polish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Canada:PG | Czech Republic:U | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Otwock, Poland

Company:

Chimney Pot

Trivia:

As explained at Cinequest Film Festival 2008, supposedly the dog was so popular to the first audiences, that they demanded (and got) a special "Canine Award" at the 32nd Polish Film Awards (were actress Danuta Szaflarska had also won Best Actress).

An excellent time to die

I went to watch this movie with little expectations, mostly to complement my Polish learning, but came back fascinated. We are treated to a glimpse in the daily routine of this solitary old woman. More than that, we are offered the chance to look at her own personal world through her eyes. It inspires us with her fears, her joys, her memories and even her dreams.

Her routine does not become repetitive at all during the film: something new is always afoot, and the dog provides some counterbalance to her monologue. All other actors do a great job here, including the pet, but the old lady seemed so real that sometimes you wanted to answer back to the screen. However, the camera work is what most got my attention. It marvelously captures all the situations and the feelings involved in them, and presents them in texture-rich black and white. The visuals captivated me from beginning to end: the carefully chosen composition and angles, the impressive number of different textures and the use of lighting, as well as some camera tricks, like shooting through glass, made me feel like I was watching a collection of very beautiful and evocative pictures on top of which the characters moved like paper figurines.

Unfortunately my Polish is not very good, yet, so I missed about half of the dialogue. I'm hoping to see this movie subtitled to a language I understand better, but I recommend watching this movie even if you don't get a single word.