Ida

From Poland comes Ida, an award-winning film which touches on the Jewish holocaust and explores lost identities and dark family secrets.

Set in Poland in the early 1960s, the story centres on Anna (Agata Trzebuchowska), a nun who visits her estranged Aunt (Agata Kulesza) before taking her vows.

She learns of her Jewish heritage and that her real name is Ida. The shocking truth about her family’s fate ultimately severs her commitment to the order.

Trzebuchowska is haunting as Ida and delivers a sublime and memorable performance. The story unfolds slowly but is intense and captivating throughout.

Ida is a simplistic and breathtakingly beautiful movie, chillingly filmed in black and white. The unevenly centred camera-angles, dark photography and long shots of isolated and barren landscapes are cleverly utilised to enhance the gloom and mystery. (MM)

**** 1/2