Tag: cinema

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

SashLeave a comment
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)

SashLeave a comment
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)

SashLeave a comment
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)

SashLeave a comment
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)

SashLeave a comment
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)

SashLeave a comment
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)

SashLeave a comment
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.

Scooby-dooby-doo. “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” (2025)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Rian Johnson
© 2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to day 4 of 2026! How many of your resolutions are already postponed to 2027? Come on, be honest, we know how things work. I just hope that you’ll be regularly checking my blog and watching lots of good films. The rest can be done later. Let’s begin the year with something funny, thrilling and mysterious – so retired 007, Daniel Craig, playing Sherlock Holmes. This is the third film of the Knives Out series, where we follow Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), who each time has a different crime to investigate. If you haven’t seen the previous two parts – no worries, because it’s made in a similar way like other detective stories, so each part is a separate story. In this one, I’m taking you to church (just like Hozier wanted – wink, wink), where a young priest Jud (Josh O’Connor) becomes an assistant of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). Since it’s a little town they serve in, new things aren’t very welcome here. Still, Jud notices Jefferson’s strange behaviour that influences the parishioners and he tries to make some changes, which is difficult on many levels. One day, Jefferson gets murdered in an unusual way and, obviously, Jud is the main suspect. However, here comes our mastermind Benoit Blanc whose job is to learn about this village’s secrets and find the actual murderer. I’ve seen all three parts of the series and as much as I enjoyed the first one, the second film wasn’t that exciting. So I didn’t feel like checking out the third part, but somehow I did out of boredom and actually got surprised. In my opinion, it’s almost as good as the first one. The mystery is so weird and complex that it makes it even funnier to be solving it. Not to mention the magnificent cast that you could watch for hours. I guess I had extra fun because not that long time ago I took part in a city game where the main task was to solve the mystery of a stolen object in a church. It was all made up, obviously, but we had to analyse how the thief actually managed to hide, steal and escape. So this film reminded me of that game and I was watching it thinking “yeah, Blanc, I know how you’re feeling, been there, done that.” I believe this is an awesome title to begin your year with. Let’s just hope you won’t need to wake up any dead men in 2026. Crossing my fingers for that.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Our lives are the sum of our choices. “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (2025)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Christopher McQuarrie
© 2025 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Am I the only one who feels the same way at the end of this year as Tom Cruise in that picture? Like… you’re helpless, there’s not much you can do, but you’re still hanging to that plane that is flying like crazy and there’s a big chance you’ll fall and crash your body in a hurtful way? Yep, that’s exactly what the end of 2025 feels like. It was definitely one of the worst for me and if 2026 has plans to be worse, I’ll gladly unsubscribe and get back to VHS kind of life. Do you even remember VHS? Or should I go dye my grey hair already? Anyway, the end of 2025 is also the end of Mission Impossible! Or is it? Well, it kind of gives the vibes of the final part, but you never know. And the ending says nothing specific, so I guess we will see. Anyway, this one is definitely not my favourite part of Mission Impossible, yet I couldn’t dislike it just like that – it’s Mission Impossible in the end. I adore this fast running Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), the soundtrack, the special effects and Tom doing things I would never do unless you paid me as much as he earns. This film is the continuation of the story of “Dead Reckoning” and I guess it’s pointless to watch it without knowing the first part. I mean, the plot is already very complex, so at least watch the first one and have the idea who is whom. I have to say that I didn’t feel much engaged in the story itself and I believe “Dead Reckoning” was way better when it comes to the screenplay. However, it’s still thrilling, full of plot twists and action, so as a fan of Mission Impossible I wasn’t devastated – just slightly disappointed. I guess Tom focused too much on doing all the dangerous things to be remembered as the guy with huge cojones. Burning parachuting, diving, flying “off” the plane… I mean, yes, Tom, you are damn brave and I’m not even joking about it. Standing ovation for you there. But I wish they polished the screenplay a bit more so the film could be remembered also for the plot. But hey, isn’t it the best kind of film to end 2025 with? Full of plot twists, random dangerous actions and with a poor story to remember. Perfection if you ask me. Let’s hope 2026 will be more generous and we will finish it with a relaxing comedy. Or at least a documentary about koalas. Pretty please.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Can this night get any better? “Unaccompanied Minors” (2006)

SashLeave a comment
directed by Paul Feig
© 2006 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

How many of you can still move and how many of you promise themselves not to make the same mistake again next year? Well, either way, you may need something to cheer you up, so here’s my little recommendation. This film was actually one of my favourites when I was a teenager, so even though it might not be liked by adults that much, I still feel pretty nostalgic about it. The story takes place in the US on Christmas Eve, where Spencer and Kate (Dyllan Christopher & Dominique Saldaña), siblings, are travelling from California to Pennsylvania to spend Christmas with their dad. The charm of having divorced parents, you know what I mean. They need to have a layover during which the weather gets so much worse that it’s impossible to fly anywhere. Since they are both minors, they end up in a special room where all children and teenagers travelling alone wait for their flights. The place is pure hell and I bet nobody wants to spend their Christmas Eve like this. What’s more, at some point Spencer and Kate get separated and might not see each other till the next day. The boy must find a way to reunite with his sister because little Kate still believes in Santa and if he doesn’t get her a gift by the morning, it’ll ruin her Christmas… Yes, I loved Spencer for being such a great brother! He manages to make some friends and together with other teenagers, they’re trying to survive at the airport and make sure that little Kate will still believe in Santa! Not gonna lie, when I was a teen myself, I dreamed of being stuck at an airport and just play with my peers. Especially, since in this comedy children are way smarter than adults (and not only in this comedy, apparently) and seeing grown-ups being tricked all the time is pure joy. I feel like this production has been forgotten, so I’m more than happy to remind you about it. It’s not only a funny family film, but it also teaches great lessons and I bet everyone can find something for themselves there. The most important is that it’s kind of based on a real story. Lots of children have to travel like this between cities or countries because of their parents’ divorce and the “best” decision made by the judge. I’m sure they will remember those airports or train stations more than spending time with both parents every year. So, as I wrote, not only in this comedy children are smarter than adults. Wish you a meaningful reflection.

My rating: 6/10
S.