Visually, this film is stunning and beautiful example of film noir.
The narrative leaves a lot to be desired. This film is portrayed as a love story, star crossed lovers in post way Poland. However in my humble opinion I wasn't convinced that they were in love, not convinced that there was romance. To be honest it came across as self indulgent tripe.
From Zula not showing up to their destined meeting in Berlin to escape to the west, to Zula leaving Wiktor in Paris while she returned to Poland. I want you, but I don't. And now I do again. Wiktor in his soppy "I will follow her no matter where" does just that and despite very high risk of incarceration, goes to find her and does find himself in jail. Thats paraphrasing much of the story but it is less painful than actually watching it.
Zula comes to the rescue when she claims she will get Wiktor out. Fast forward and there is an implication that she got together with Kaczmarek and had a child.
When Wiktor is freed he goes to the show and sees them all. Zula gets off stage, walks straight past her child without a glance to greet Wiktor. WHY????????? Why even bring a child into the narrative? It did absolutely nothing to improve this story and just made the ending even more unpalatable.
The ending.... well Wiktor and Zula symbolically marry in a ruined church. Once their vows are made, they swallow a whole bunch of pills. While not specifically shown you can guess that suicide is the end.
I wanted to like this. I really did. Unfortunately I found myself wondering if I had watched a different edit to the critics because I found it to be utterly forgettable, selfish and self indulgent. The cinematography was not enough to save it for me.
The narrative leaves a lot to be desired. This film is portrayed as a love story, star crossed lovers in post way Poland. However in my humble opinion I wasn't convinced that they were in love, not convinced that there was romance. To be honest it came across as self indulgent tripe.
From Zula not showing up to their destined meeting in Berlin to escape to the west, to Zula leaving Wiktor in Paris while she returned to Poland. I want you, but I don't. And now I do again. Wiktor in his soppy "I will follow her no matter where" does just that and despite very high risk of incarceration, goes to find her and does find himself in jail. Thats paraphrasing much of the story but it is less painful than actually watching it.
Zula comes to the rescue when she claims she will get Wiktor out. Fast forward and there is an implication that she got together with Kaczmarek and had a child.
When Wiktor is freed he goes to the show and sees them all. Zula gets off stage, walks straight past her child without a glance to greet Wiktor. WHY????????? Why even bring a child into the narrative? It did absolutely nothing to improve this story and just made the ending even more unpalatable.
The ending.... well Wiktor and Zula symbolically marry in a ruined church. Once their vows are made, they swallow a whole bunch of pills. While not specifically shown you can guess that suicide is the end.
I wanted to like this. I really did. Unfortunately I found myself wondering if I had watched a different edit to the critics because I found it to be utterly forgettable, selfish and self indulgent. The cinematography was not enough to save it for me.