A shot from the film Ida by Paweł Pawlikowski, phot. Opus Film
Ida has won the 2014 LUX Prize, granted by the European Parliament to films which encourage discussion on values important to the European Union. The Polish film beat two films – Slovenian and French – to the award.
The award was presented by the President of the EP Martin Schulz during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
By presenting an analysis of growing up in Ida, Paweł Pawlikowski revealed the abyss of the European soul in its darkest moments – said Schulz about Pawlikowski’s film just before presenting the award.
As pointed out by the President of the EP, European films help us better understand “our own history and our own neighbours”. “European cinema certainly contributes to better mutual understanding between Europeans and creating a sense of community on our continent” – said Schulz. He added that in this way the film manages to achieve what we care about, that is, “overcoming” national borders
It’s an honour for me to be present here and receive the prize for Ida three days after the film winning the main prize of the European Film Academy in Riga – said Pawlikowski.
He pointed out that in Ida he told the story of a young woman seeking for her identity and truth, and who thus discovers tragic secrets and paradoxes which occurred in Poland in the last century.
Ida is a small, black and white film without music, filmed by an almost stationary camera. It seems that it is literally a grim film, but it strikes the audience in all European countries (…) Which may be proof that art still has a role to play in contemporary cinema and that personal, specific movies, without rhetoric and calculations, have universal coverage and reach people – explained the director.
The Polish film was one of three pictures nominated for this year’s award. The other two were the Slovenian film Class Enemy by Rok Biczek and the French film Girlhood by Celine Sciamma.
In recent weeks, all three films were presented in 28 member countries. They also received funds for their subtitles to be translated into the official EU languages.
Ida takes place at the beginning of the 1960s. Anna, a young novice and orphan brought up in a convent (played by Agata Trzebuchowska in her debut role on the big screen), meets Wanda Gruz (played by Agata Kulesza), her aunt and only living relative, just before taking her vows. She learns from Wanda about her Jewish heritage and that her real name is not Anna but Ida Lebenstein. She also learns the tragic story of her parents, who were murdered in the war. This confrontation with the past proves to be a test of faith for the future nun.
Ida, which was filmed partially in Łódź, is a Polish-Danish co-production realized by Opus Film and Phoenix Film studios in cooperation with Portobello Pictures, Phoenix Film Poland and Canal + Poland. The production was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute and the Danish Film Institute, among others.
The LUX prize has been granted by by the European Parliament since 2007.
Souce: PAP, ed. PZ, transl. szm, December 2014