Cold War (15)

Our Screen 2 film for May will be Cold War...

... a marriage of stunning black and white photography with wonderful music and period detail of post-war Poland and Paris. Director Pawel Pawlikowski takes inspiration from his own parents’ tumultuous relationship to tell a beautiful, tragic love story against this rich backdrop. Wiktor has been hired as musical director for a troupe whose job is to showcase Polish folk music - on both sides of the Iron Curtain. He falls in love with singer Zula and the action moves to France as they defect from cold war propaganda to the jazz cafes of Paris. Music is central to Cold War and the scenes of Polish music and dance and smoky jazz are equally mesmerising. We follow Zula and Wiktor as they struggle to be together - or apart - and are torn between their homeland and artistic freedom in the West.

Cold War won Best Director at Cannes and has garnered a Best Director Oscar nomination - a rarity for a foreign language film, proving it a worthy successor to Pawlikowski’s previous film, Ida, which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language film in 2015. 

'Cold War is an immaculately crafted film shot in exquisite black and white and marvelously acted - especially by its incandescent lead actress Joanna Kulig, whose mercurial performance recalls Jeanne Moreau.' John Powers, NPR

'Pawlikowski remains a director to watch and Cold War is a film to watch again and again.' Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Tickets cost £4 for adults and £2 for under 18s, and are available online now or in advance from Watts Trading or on the door if not already sold out.