Beautifully shot and composed in black and white by cinematographer Lukasz Zal, director Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War (2018; Zimna wojna) is an ode to a love that endures over decades despite great suffering. Wiktor (Tomasz Kot) meets Zula (Joanna Kulig) while both working for a state-sponsored music troupe that travels throughout post-war Poland. Their attraction and developing relationship is affected by the communist state and the cold war climate continues to pressure their separation, union, separation and reunion across borders. It’s ultimately a depressing drama about how individual lives are shaped by the changing fortunes of governments and global political disagreements. Yet Kot and Kuling are an iconically attractive couple, and their swooning, messy love is a sweet, sad thing to observe for a tight 88 minute running time. Available to stream in Australia on SBS On Demand. Recommended.
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