Some things are not that obvious. “Undercover: Exposing the Far Right” (2024)

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directed by Havana Marking
© 2024 Marking Films. All Rights Reserved.

Generally, I stay away from politics, but this documentary caught my attention and I’d like to share it with you. Just to be clear, this film shows the dark sides of rightists, so if you’re one, perhaps you can skip it. Or quite the opposite – maybe after watching you will reflect on your choices. I’m not a rightist and I’ll be writing this post from my subjective perspective. You decide whether you want to keep reading or not. In the documentary you will learn about an anti-facist group called Hope Not Hate, who try to stop extremists from spreading hate and make sure communities live in peace and common respect. They decide to go undercover and expose the truth about far-right with the use of hidden cameras, microphones and by gaining the group’s trust. What you will see in this film isn’t much surprising, but surely it’s intense. I mean, we all know what those people do on our streets during protests or what they share on the Internet. But when you listen to the conversations they have between each other while nobody else is listening (except the hidden microphones of Hope Not Hate), you may actually have chills. Or you may be shocked how cunning they are. Because if you think the leaders of such groups aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed, then I’m sorry to disappoint you. In fact, they know exactly what they’re doing, so any controversies or actions that seem unexpected are definitely well-planned. One moment made me reflect a lot – when I realised that far-righists promote absolutely ridiculous ideas, but it’s only to manipulate us. For example, let’s look at the topic of abortion. They will be stating that abortion should be illegal in all possible situations and anyone who’s done it should end up in jail. Then, leftists will be fighting for such extreme law not to be passed. There’s no way they could change the rightists mind and just make abortion available for every woman that needs it (without explaining herself), so it’s time for some compromise… And most probably the final decision will be that abortion is legal only in few cases and those who do it in secret will face serious consequences. Leftists are glad they stopped the implementation of the extreme idea, but… from the very beginning, the rightists wanted exactly that compromise. It’s their tactic – propose something absurd to make us think that the compromise is actually our victory. But is it really? That is why I believe far-rightists are way more dangerous than just rightists – because they are suprisingly more successful in forcing their values on the society. I recommend you to see this film, see a different perspective and reflect. Because I feel like the only weapon we have now is a decent reflection. My rating is lower because this documentary doesn’t stand out from others in its form and I believe the topic shouldn’t be the only criteria I consider here. But it’s still worth seeing.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Permission to hug? “Zootopia 2” (2025)

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directed by Jared Bush & Byron Howard
© 2025 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

As I promised, here’s my recommendation of “Zootopia 2”. If you haven’t seen the first film, you may check out my previous post and perhaps watch both parts together. Although, if you decide to see only the second film, you’ll still understand everything there, because the characters are introduced to us again and the story is not really connected to the previous one. But if you haven’t seen the first part, you may find my post a little spoiler, so just so you know. In this film, Judy and Nick (Ginnifer Goodwin & Jason Bateman) are work partners at the police department, but even though they managed to succeed last time, they are still very different from each other, which causes lots of problems. During one mission, Judy spots a shedded snake skin, which seems unreal, because there haven’t been any snakes in the city of Zootopia for years. However, the more they investigate the case, the more probable it becomes that there is, in fact, a snake somewhere here. Since they are considered a threat to the community, Judy and Nick must find it before anything bad happens. And soon, those two might realise that nothing is that obvious and simple… Intrigued? I hope so. What I definitely loved about this part is that it doesn’t stand out from the first one. If you watch them together, I bet you can’t really say they were made 10 years apart. The jokes are still there and I actually liked the main plot twist, because, again, the filmmakers take stereotypes and crush them into tiny pieces. I have to say I’m not a big fan of modern children’s animations, because they seem too complicated and, in fact, tiring to me. I get it, now, younger generations expect everything, everywhere, happening all at once. But it would be nice to see more animations like “Zootopia”, because there are still adults who like watching such films and we feel discriminated. On behalf of millenials, please, keep making such animations! Thank you in advance. Besides, in what other film you may watch a gazelle singing with the voice of Shakira? That’s a very unique experience.

My rating: 7/10
S.

What Do You Call A Three-Humped Camel? “Zootopia” (2016)

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directed by Byron Howard & Rich Moore
© 2016 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, I’ve seen “Zootopia 2” and, while writing a post about, I realised that I haven’t recommended the first part on my blog. So today we’re moving back to 2016… wow. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years! It’s about time to create a post about it then. Some of you probably already know this animation, but for those who don’t, sit comfortably and enjoy the plot: Imagine a world without people. Awesome, right? Instead of them, we have animals, who can talk and do everything humans do. There, we meet Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a very ambitious little rabbit who wishes to move to the city of Zootopia and become the first ever bunny policeman. Or… police-bunny. I’m trying to be politically correct, ok? So, Judy is assigned to do rather basic boring stuff at work, but then things get complicated and she is given an urgent case to solve – but she must do it quickly. In order to succeed, she has to cooperate with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a smart but rebellious fox. As we know, bunnies and foxes don’t really go together, but, surprisingly, those to make a great team. Will they manage to solve the case? It’s for you to see. Even though I was already an adult watching “Zootopia”, I enjoyed it very much. If you miss good old animations for children, then this one shouldn’t disappoint you. The characters are well-written, the plot is fun to follow and you may spot numerous jokes that are actually hilarious. Besides, I’m sure that you’ll love their sloth – because if you’ve ever been to any office, you’ll definitely have flashbacks. Fun fact, at first the filmmakers wanted to make Nick the main character, but then decided to switch roles with Judy, and I actually believe it was a great choice. Not only they created another inspiring female character (even if she’s not human), but also made Nick in the supporting role a more insteresting element of the whole story. Generally, the film is fast, entertaining and educational, so to me, it makes a very good animation. If you still haven’t seen “Zootopia”, it’s about time! Especially since I’ll be writing about the second part soon, so stay tuned.

My rating: 7/10
S.

When there are more sick ones than well ones, the sick ones will lock the well ones up. “The Snake Pit” (1948)

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directed by Anatole Litvak
© 1948 20th Century-Fox. All Rights Reserved.

I believe that cinema is for everyone and it should impact people in two ways – either make them forget about their reality, or make them reflect on their reality. Today’s film was released many years ago, but it’s one of those productions that were significant even outside the screening room. Also, if you think that old black and white films are boring, then “The Snake Pit” should be on to-watch list. We get to know Virginia Cunningham (Olivia de Havilland), who’s a young woman diagnosed with schizophrenia. She doesn’t recognise her own husband, Robert (Mark Stevens), and hears strange voices, so she needs to be treated at a mental hospital. Dr. Kik (Leo Genn) tries various methods to help the woman, but staying at this institution seems like an even bigger challenge than dealing with schizophrenia… When I read about this story, I just had to see it. Especially, since thanks to it the US mental health institutions were forced to improve their organisation. In this film, you may not only get engaged in a mysterious case of a troubled woman, but also observe the way patients are treated. It seems the film crew did a marvellous job, because there was also a lot of drama around it. For example, viewers believed that the extras were real patients with mental issues and using them for the purpose of the production should be forbidden, while those were just talented actors. So talented that they tricked the audience. Or well directed. Or both. Also, nurses in the US were protesting against showing them in such negative way. On the one hand, I understand, because not every nurse is wicked, but let’s face it – we have all met at least one witch in our lives. Just to be clear, I admire health workers, but there some who should change their profession based on the way they treat people. And in mental health institutions the patients are even more helpless, so there are more opportunities for maltreatment. That is why I support productions like this one – for making an impact. Very often it must be covered in controversy, but it’s worth it. I bet lots of patients and their families are thankful for that. Besides, the film plot is really exciting to follow, so I bet you will enjoy it. Even though it’s old and without colours.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I was looking in the mirror. “Stolen Children” (“Skradzione dzieci”, 2025)

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directed by Jowita Baraniecka & Martyna Wojciechowska
© 2025 HBO. All Rights Reserved.

Imagine one day you accidentally bump into a person that looks like you. As if you were looking in the mirror. At first it may seem funny, a great opportunity to take a selfie and share on social media saying “hey guys, I’ve found my twin!”. But what if that actually is your twin? Impossible? Well, fasten your seat belts and prepare for a ride. Today I’m recommending you a documentary about a horrible series of crimes (because I cannot call it differently) that happened for over 30 years in Georgia. Approximately from the 70s till 2005, stealing and selling children was very common there. How was it possible? Well, Georgian women were giving birth in hospitals and later told that, for example, the child died right after. In fact, the baby was alright – and it was already on the way to their new parents. It was a very well organised business and many different people were involved in it – from the hospital staff to drivers. If you think it’s a story about several children, let me share a heart-breaking numer: 100 000 – that’s how many children might have been stolen in Georgia. It was (and in some places still is) a popular way to earn money – women from post-Soviet countries were giving away children for money, but it was often a process of surrogacy. However, here, the Georgian mothers were lied to and treated in the most horrible way. This documentary tells you the whole story and also presents the victims of the shady business. For example, we get to know a woman who, after her mother’s death, finds out that she one of the illegally adopted children. Or we meet twin sisters who got separated at birth and accidentally found out about each other many years later. I cannot even imagine how those mothers and those children (the ones who know about their background) are dealing with such unfairness in life. A hospital should be one of the safest places you can end up in, where they want to help you. Instead, you get hurt even more. On the one hand, I love watching documentaries and learning about the world, but on the other… I get scared of the reality we’re living in… Still, I hope you’ll find time for this production. And I hope for a lot of strength for all the victims.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Everyone deserves the chance to fly. “Wicked: For Good” (2025)

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directed by Jon M. Chu
© 2025 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

I think we can all agree that the world of musical has had one very strong leader in the last two years. Well, no surprise if you take a legendary play, brilliant singing actors and put so much money into marketing that an ordinary human being cannot even imagine. Am I a hater? Absolutely not. Unfortunately, without promotion, lots of marvellous films aren’t known to a wide audience. So I’m glad everyone is talking about “Wicked”, because both parts are worth seeing. I guess it’s obvious you should see the first part before watching this one – because it’s actually one very long film divided into two (thank you for not making us spend 5 hours in front of the screen!). And when it comes to rating – it’s also difficult for me to rate this part differently. I look at the general story and, in my opinion, both films are equally good. The second one is way more serious and mature, I’d say, which is understandable considering the fact that the characters have also changed. Now, despite their strong friendship, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) stand on opposite sides. One is considered a wicked witch that wants to destroy the Land of Oz, the other one is taken for a saviour. Elphaba wishes to protect everyone from the Wizard, but almost nobody believes her. In every story there must be the good and the bad one, and sometimes we have to accept it. The film looks beautiful, it’s full of colours, stunning set design and costumes, lovely songs – so everyone, despite their age, may find something entertaining for themselves here. Not to mention Cynthia and Ariana’s singing… I melt. And I actually wish I could listen to them singing live, because they are magnificent. So if someone with lots of money is reading this – if you want to do some charity, here’s a very dedicated cinephile wishing to go abroad and enjoy angels’ voices. I promise to send you a postcard! Anyway, back to the film – another reason why I like it is because thanks to such adaptations, people get interested in the theatre. I bet a lot of you want to see “Wicked” on stage. I do and I’m planning to do it in my country this year. As much as I love cinema, my first passion was the theatre and I’m glad I can be a part of both worlds. And remember – everyone deserves a chance to fly!

My rating: 7/10
S.

Actions have consequences. “The Housemaid” (2025)

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directed by Paul Feig
© 2025 Lionsgate. All Rights Reserved.

I was so excited to learn that this film is coming up! Last year my friend recommended me to try reading the book, since I’m into crime stories. She just recommended the first part… and I ended up reading the whole series (3 books). If you’re into thrillers that play with your mind and make you question everything, then this one is for you. Let me share a few words about the plot. We get to know Millie (Sydney Sweeney), a young woman who’s looking for a job as a housemaid. She has an interview at one fancy house, but her chances are rather low. Surprisingly, Nina (Amanda Seyfried), the house owner, decides to hire Millie. At first everything seems great – decent salary, own room upstairs, free weekends. Unfortunately, Nina starts showing her other side, which is totally unexpected and makes working there a real challenge for the housemaid. And she cannot resign because… well, you will learn yourselves. Luckily, there’s Nina’s husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), who seems way more stable and supportive. Let me just add that Millie’s room has a window that doesn’t open and the door is locked from the outside only. Do you have any idea what may happen? I assure you – you have none! I mean, when I was reading the book, I had my guess and I was pretty close, but Freida McFadden, the author, has a huge imagination. And I must say I’ve become her fan, so I really hope for more film adaptations of her books. But back to “The Housemaid” – even though I knew the story, they still managed to keep me thrilled in the cinema. The camerawork was creepy, so a perfect fit for production. The casting – marvellous! Let me just say that if you feel like Sydney Sweeney seems emotionless and unbothered in this role – that’s exactly how Millie is presented in the book. So a job well done. But the absolute acting star here is Amanda… damn! I had chills! She had such a difficult task to do and she nailed it. Her character is very complex and it takes a lot of talent and hard work to handle it. Bravissimo! However, one thing that disappointed me was Enzo (Michele Morrone), the groundskeeper. In the book he is more involved in the story than in the film, but, to all Michele’s fans – don’t worry, Enzo gets back in the next parts. So if they make next adaptations (it’s in development), you should be satisfied. Generally, this thriller was such a new year’s gift for me and I’m shocked how much I liked it. I sincerely recommend you to see it and perhaps become a new Freida McFadden’s fan.

My rating: 9/10
S.

What is this boxing all about? “Boxer” (“Bokser”, 2024)

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directed by Mitja Okorn
© 2024 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Today’s film was shot in my country, with the actors I know very well from other productions, and I do use Netflix, but somehow I totally didn’t see it anywhere. As if it was top secret. The funny part is that I’ve met a guy who worked in the filmmaking crew of “Boxer” and he’s recommended me to see it (if you’re reading this, greetings for you!). At first I didn’t feel much encouraged because biopics about sportspeople are often very similar and absolutely not entertaining to me. Then I checked the cast and I simply had to see it, even if that meant watching half-naked sweaty men fighting with each other. The story is fictional, but I can tell that the director did his homework about the reality of living in Poland after WWII. I’m not that old, but I know about those times from my family, and what you can see in “Boxer” is pretty accurate. Maybe except some costumes or make-up… but let’s skip to the plot. We meet a young man named Jędrzej (Eryk Kulm), whose father was a boxing star, so everyone expects him to follow the same path. However, building a career back then in Poland wasn’t that easy or financially appealing, so Jędrzej decides to emigrate together with his wife Kasia (Adrianna Chlebicka). Unfortunately, grass isn’t always greener on the other side, so the boxer has to decide what price he’ll pay for becoming a champion. What I obviously enjoyed in the film was the cast, especially the male part, because they are simply horribly talented actors, so no surprise. But I also appreciated how dynamic the pace was, so it wasn’t boring at any point. Unfortunately, I do think the film is too long, because even though I felt engaged in the story, I got tired somewhere in the second half. Oh, and the ending… not my cup of tea. I mean, I give a thumb up for the message, but not how they presented it. Still, I recommend you to see “Boxer”, because it’s not a typical sport film; it’s actually a universal story about the family pressure and not being able to choose our own dreams. So if you’re not into men destroying each other’s faces with fists, then I assure you there’s more to expect from this production.

My rating: 6/10
S.

We’ll go mad in the end. “Sátántangó” (1994)

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directed by Béla Tarr
© 1994 Arbelos Films. All Rights Reserved.

I learnt about Béla Tarr when I was studying Film at university and I promised myself back then that I’ll watch “Sátántangó” when the director dies. Why? Because the idea of watching an over 7-hour-long Hungarian drama didn’t sound like something I was ready to do. So I decided to postpone it… until now. Tarr has left us and it’s the perfect moment to appreciate him by writing about his most popular production. Just to make it clear – I did watch it. I kept my promise! Since it’s over 7 hours long, I needed to divide it into parts, because I needed to eat, pee and walk a bit not to end up with legs paresis. If you’re a superhero (or a maniac) who actually managed to watch it in one go, I sincerely admire you. You probably watched it in the toilet with a mini-fridge next to you, but still – impressive! And if you’re also as scared of the length of this film as I was, let me say that you have the right to feel this way. It’s not a pleasant romcom and you really need to have a lot of motivation to press play. But, damn, it’s a great production. Shortly about the plot, it’s based on the book of the same title by László Krasznahorkai (awarded a Nobel prize in 2025). We follow Irimiás (Mihály Víg), an impostor, who shows up in a poor Hungarian village. The people living there are absolutely hopeless and have no idea what to do with their lives. They consider Irimiás a saviour that may help them and show the right path. The man decides to use their innocence and naivety to gain something for himself. In the film, we observe the life in the village from different perspectives, in a non-chronological order, yet everything’s in the same tiring slow pace. After two hours you might start to feel frustrated how phlegmatic the film is, but closer to the end, you may actually appreciate it. Why? Because that’s the point. Well, it’s just my opinion, of course, but the reason why Tarr decided to make it so incredibly long is probably to exhaust the audience and make us experience the destructive helplessness of those villagers. If the film had been 2 hours long, this message wouldn’t hit with the same intensity. For example, there’s this one dancing scene that lasts for about 10 minutes. And you know what happens there? Nothing. You watch people dancing for 10 minutes. The camera doesn’t move and they are just dancing. Those long shots really make you question everything. And I agree that it’s one of those films that you must see before you die. The reason why I’m not rating it 10/10 is because of maltreating a cat while shooting (you will see). The crew said that they took care of the cat, but in my opinion it’s still an unnecessary element of the film. I’ll never support torturing animals for the sake of art. Period. However, the film in general is exhausting, yet magnificent. I can’t even imagine how much work and effort they put into creating it. I bet Krasznahorkai couldn’t be prouder for such an adaptation of his book. To end with a fun fact, in order to look natural during drinking scenes, the actors were actually drunk, which isn’t healthy, but at least you cannot say they weren’t realistic. What can I say? Rest in peace, Mr. Tarr.

My rating: 8/10
S.

The dead tree is as important as the living one. “Train Dreams” (2025)

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directed by Clint Bentley
© 2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Writing a post about this production is incredibly difficult for me, because no matter what I do, it’s not enough to describe it. I could just say it’s a film about a man and his life. I could say it’s a film about hope and finding beauty in simple things. I could say it’s a film about the fear of loss and the helplessness of humans. I could write all the above, but it’s still not enough. If this post ends up being short, forgive me, but after watching the film you’ll understand why. I recommend you not to watch any trailers, as always, turn off your phone and focus for those 100 minutes. Even though the main character is a man living in post-World War I reality, we may find something for ourselves in his story. Instead of telling you about the plot, because I believe you should discover it yourself, maybe I could share my reflection after seeing the film. I realised how unfair life can be and that there’s not always sun coming after rain. Sometimes, it’s a thunderstorm or a hurricane, and the simple rain becomes comforting. I also realised that no matter what someone says, we’re all in need of affection, and loneliness is the worst punishment. Also, this film reminded me that we don’t need superheroes and made up creatures to forget about the reality. “Train Dreams” literally feels like taking a long train ride, where you’re alone in a compartment and the weather is gloomy, yet relaxing. You’re just looking out the window, listen to your breathing and let yourself dream. That’s what this production feels like. So if you’re in need of such experience, you shouldn’t be disappointed. It’s a truly moving story.

My rating: 7/10
S.