Beating the Rain in the Name of the Film Festival

On a cold, wet night, a large crowd braved the rain, and came to the Bellevue Theater where four films debuted at the Montclair Film Festival. The line, which spilled out the front doors, buzzed with anticipation. Volunteers in yellow Festival shirts facilitated the event; an information table was conveniently set up in the lobby. Of the four features--I Am Road Comic; Pioneer; Girl, Adopted; and Ida—the latter looked the most promising.

Set in post-war Poland, this powerfully told story centers on a young nun named Anna who discovers her Jewish heritage from her hard-drinking, hard-working aunt, Wanda Gurz. Anna, played with a calm intensity by newcomer Agata Trzebuchowska, was left as a baby at a convent in 1945. Now in the early 60s, she is reunited for the first time with her aunt who says upon meeting her: “So you’re a Jewish nun.” The two set out on a journey to discover where Anna’s parents have been buried.

Photographed in lush monochrome, with stark cinematography, the film displays a decaying post-war landscape with crumbly roads and broken walls. Ida is a must see for both art-house fans and those interested in a unique angle on the effects of anti-Semitism and communism. With its brisk pace and surprising character twists, Ida avoids sentimentality, and offers a range of emotions: sadness, humor, outrage, and a kind of devastated hope. Directed by Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski, Ida was a winner at last year’s Toronto Film Festival.

As for tonight, six more films premiere at the Clairidge and the Bellevue. Two of these films look particularly interesting, and both are playing at the Bellevue. The first is a documentary, The Internet’s Own Boy: the Story of Aaron Swartz—an “internet genius who turned away from commerce to channel his talents into social change” (Festival Guide). Tragically, a little over a year ago, Aaron committed suicide after the US federal government began to target him for prosecution. Director Brian Knappenberger will be in person and giving a talk.

The other film that looks fascinating is Beneath the Harvest Sky by directors Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. This feature follows two Maine teenagers on a “dangerous drug-smuggling operation” as a way to free themselves from their rural “run-down, industrial farm town.”  The directors will be on hand. Visit the festival website for more information about tickets.

Feel free if you saw any of the films last night to comment at the bottom for our readers.

Enjoy tonight!