In a striking debut, Zofia Stafiej sets about repatriating her late father’s body from Dublin, and finding herself along the way
Right from the first few minutes, it is hard to not to feel immediately taken with Ola (Zofia Stafiej), the 17-year-old protagonist of Piotr Domalewski’s I Never Cry. In the middle of her third driving test, Ola makes a sudden swerve as she tries to avoid a dangerous turn from another driver, much to the displeasure of her examiner. She gets out of her vehicle and proceeds to stop the other car, kicking off its front numberplate. This might sound bratty and annoying, but Stafiej, in her acting debut, portrays a kind of endearingly headstrong spirit that makes the scene play out like a very contemporary type of farce.
As the film progresses, it becomes clear Ola is simply not someone who follows instructions. After receiving the news that her estranged father,...
Right from the first few minutes, it is hard to not to feel immediately taken with Ola (Zofia Stafiej), the 17-year-old protagonist of Piotr Domalewski’s I Never Cry. In the middle of her third driving test, Ola makes a sudden swerve as she tries to avoid a dangerous turn from another driver, much to the displeasure of her examiner. She gets out of her vehicle and proceeds to stop the other car, kicking off its front numberplate. This might sound bratty and annoying, but Stafiej, in her acting debut, portrays a kind of endearingly headstrong spirit that makes the scene play out like a very contemporary type of farce.
As the film progresses, it becomes clear Ola is simply not someone who follows instructions. After receiving the news that her estranged father,...
- 7/19/2021
- by Phuong Le
- The Guardian - Film News
Piotr Domalewski touched on the impact of migrant working on Polish families in his debut Silent Night, which had a protagonist who travelled home from his job in the Netherlands and the writer/director returns to the theme in more detail for his follow-up to show how economic necessity can drive a wedge through families.
This time around, the tale is told from the perspective of those who have been left behind, chiefly Ola (Zofia Stafiej) a self-possessed 17-year-old and the daughter of the migrant worker in question, a father who won't ever be coming home for Christmas again after he dies in a workplace accident in Ireland. Before we hear about his fate - revealed in the film's early stages - we learn that Ola's relationship with him has become largely transactional, with the main focus for her being the car he has promised her if she passes her driving.
This time around, the tale is told from the perspective of those who have been left behind, chiefly Ola (Zofia Stafiej) a self-possessed 17-year-old and the daughter of the migrant worker in question, a father who won't ever be coming home for Christmas again after he dies in a workplace accident in Ireland. Before we hear about his fate - revealed in the film's early stages - we learn that Ola's relationship with him has become largely transactional, with the main focus for her being the car he has promised her if she passes her driving.
- 7/8/2021
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Anders Refn’s WWII saga “Into the Darkness” (Denmark) and Ko Chen-Nien’s abuse drama “The Silent Forest” (Taiwan) won the major prizes at the 51st International Film Festival of India in Goa.
“Into The Darkness” won the Golden Peacock for best film. The award carries a cash prize of Inr 4 million. The Silver Peacock for best director went to Ko, for “The Silent Forest.” The award comes with a cash prize of Inr 1.5 million.
Liu Tzu-Chuan won best actor, male, for “The Silent Forest,” while Zofia Stafiej won best actor, female, for her role in Piotr Domalewski’s comedy-drama “I Never Cry” (Poland).
Kamin Kalev won the special jury award for drama “February” (Bulgaria/France). Cassio Pereira dos Santos won best debut for trans coming-of-age film “Valentina” (Brazil). Indian director Kripal Kalita was given a special mention for for Assamese-language film “Bridge.”
The International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication Unesco Gandhi Award,...
“Into The Darkness” won the Golden Peacock for best film. The award carries a cash prize of Inr 4 million. The Silver Peacock for best director went to Ko, for “The Silent Forest.” The award comes with a cash prize of Inr 1.5 million.
Liu Tzu-Chuan won best actor, male, for “The Silent Forest,” while Zofia Stafiej won best actor, female, for her role in Piotr Domalewski’s comedy-drama “I Never Cry” (Poland).
Kamin Kalev won the special jury award for drama “February” (Bulgaria/France). Cassio Pereira dos Santos won best debut for trans coming-of-age film “Valentina” (Brazil). Indian director Kripal Kalita was given a special mention for for Assamese-language film “Bridge.”
The International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication Unesco Gandhi Award,...
- 1/26/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Polish director Piotr Domalewski, whose film “I Never Cry” screens this week in El Gouna Film Festival’s Out of Competition section, is facing a growing controversy surrounding his next project. It centers on the Nangar Khel incident, when Polish soldiers fired mortar shells into a wedding party in an Afghan village in 2007, killing six civilians. It became known as “the event that changed the Polish army.” “Some monstrous online discussion has already started,” Domalewski says.
The film is an adaptation of the book “Betrayed” by journalist Edyta Żemła, which investigated where the blame lay for the incident, and itself had an explosive effect, mostly because of Żemła’s claim that “in Nangar Khel, it wasn’t the soldiers who tarnished the honor of the Polish army, but the politicians.” Żemła will act as a consultant on the film, which has the working title “Nangar Khel – Zdradzeni” (“Nangar Khel – Betrayed...
The film is an adaptation of the book “Betrayed” by journalist Edyta Żemła, which investigated where the blame lay for the incident, and itself had an explosive effect, mostly because of Żemła’s claim that “in Nangar Khel, it wasn’t the soldiers who tarnished the honor of the Polish army, but the politicians.” Żemła will act as a consultant on the film, which has the working title “Nangar Khel – Zdradzeni” (“Nangar Khel – Betrayed...
- 10/25/2020
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.