Set in the Poland in the early 60's, a young nun, a week away from taking her final vows, goes on a trip to discover her family past where she finds out she's a Jewish survivor of the Nazi invasion. Pawlikowski shoots the film in a stark black & white 4:3 ratio and makes every alluring shot count. It's a carefully composed film done with precision that never lets it's imagery take over from the simple yet captivating storytelling. Clocking in at a mere 80 minutes, the film packs in more of a punch than most 3 hour Hollywood epics can muster up in their entirety. Sure it's painfully bleak at times but also manages to warm the heart with a bonding story between a girl and her newly discovered aunt.
5 alto-saxophones out of 5
