From virtuoso Polish director Paweł Pawlikowski (Ida) comes an award-winning epic of tempestuous romance, political intrigue and fiery torch songs. Set against the background of the Cold War in mid-century Poland, Berlin, Yugoslavia and Paris, the film follows musical director Wiktor (Tomasz Kot) as he discovers singer Zula (Joanna Kulig) and the two begin an impossible love affair. Fatefully mismatched and yet condemned to each other, the pair grapple with the hard truths of reckless love in this shimmering, emotionally sweeping gem. With its central love affair inspired by Pawlikowski’s parents and Zula’s sarcastic delivery developed with Lauren Bacall in mind, this gorgeous film is rich in both personal history and delightful cinematic references.
“Exquisite. Musically glorious and visually ravishing.” — The Guardian
German, French, Italian, Polish, Russian, Croatian
English
France, Poland, United Kingdom