Pora umierac (2007)

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).

Wonderfully filmed piece with great cast of characters

I just saw this film at Cinequest Film Festival 18 in San Jose, CA. Although my tastes personally range towards quirky comedies, and dark thrillers, I have to say that I found this film to be a wonderful and delightful movie (not words normally spoken by one of my film tastes). It carried back to the grand days of film-making, as it is done in crisp black and white (which makes it work all the better). 91 year old actress (at the time) Danuta Szaflarska, is fantastic as the spry old woman, who is both stubborn, yet introspective.

The story focuses on the character, Aniela, and her life in what once was a grand and beautiful house, now running down, but still home for her. On one side of her house are scheming neighbors, apparently in cahoots with Aniela's unappreciative and greedy son, as developers attempting to buy the property to build apartments. On the other side is a nice family who host a rather noisy local children's music club. Aniela is stuck in the middle - but has her faithful companion dog to mirror her emotions, while also adding his own personality. The interaction between Aniela and the dog is enough alone to make this film enjoyable. As it goes, even for being 91, Aniela is no fool - as she spys and learns of her neighbors' ways and true intentions. She is always ahead of the game, as the film moves ahead, and some surprises may yet be in store for those who are not wise to her thinking and abilities.

A fantastic film that should be seen by any film lover. I hope to see it again a few more times.