Cold War

Enchanting story of fated love set in grey-tinged Poland (as well as in Berlin, Yugoslavia, and Paris) between 1949 in 1964 is both stirring and melancholy, as are the infectious tones of folk music and contemplative jazz that assume a special place in the film.

Zimna wojna
France, Poland, United Kingdom 2018
  • Czech
89 min.
Accessible
  • This film is available until 10. 8. 2026 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.
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About

Zula and Wiktor meet in 1949. He’s a talented musician who’s putting together a folk music and dance ensemble; she’s a temperamental young woman with a flair for music who’s a perfect candidate for his troupe. Thus begins a gripping love story that rightfully won this year’s Best Director Award at Cannes. Consistent with their Oscar-winning Ida, Pawlikowski and director of photography Łukasz Żal work magic with black-and-white images that leave their mark on the viewer’s memory. Music is an equally central element of this compelling story of an impossible love – both the touchingly simple folk songs of the Polish countryside and the melancholy jazz standards played in smoke-filled Parisian flats full of debating intellectuals.

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Credits
Director: Paweł Pawlikowski
Based on: Pawel Pawlikowski
Screenplay: Pawel Pawlikowski, Janusz Glowacki
Cinematography: Łukasz Żal
Sound: Maciej Pawłowski
Editing: Jarosław Kamiński
Production Design: Katarzyna Sobańska, Marcel Sławiński
Producer: Tanya Seghatchian, Ewa Puszczyńska
Co-production: Malgorzata Bela, Tomasz Dukszta, Piotr Dzieciol, Rafal Golis, Jedrzej Sablinski, Justyna Supernak, Michal Turnau
Costumes: Ola Staszko
Cast: Joanna Kulig, Tomasz Kot, Borys Szyc, Agata Kulesza, Cédric Kahn, Jeanne Balibar, Adam Woronowicz, Adam Ferency, Dražen Šivak, Slavko Sobin
Awards

Cannes Film Festival

2018 – Paweł Pawlikowski (Best Director)

European Film Awards

2018 – Paweł Pawlikowski (European Film)

European Film Awards

2018 – Paweł Pawlikowski (European Director)

European Film Awards

2018 – Joanna Kulig (European Actress)

European Film Awards

2018 – Paweł Pawlikowski (European Screenwriter)

European Film Awards

2018 – Jarosław Kamiński (European Editor)

Goya Awards

2019 – Paweł Pawlikowski (Best European Film)

Polish Film Awards

2019 – Paweł Pawlikowski (Best Film)

Polish Film Awards

2019 – Paweł Pawlikowski (Best Director)

Links
  • This film is available until 10. 8. 2026 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.