This is a respectable attempt to deal with the issue of anti-immigrant sentiment in modern Poland but, whilst its main point is made forcefully, I'm not so sure that the film is successful as a whole.
Centred on the relationship of two gifted piano-student brothers with their aimless peers, the film explores how easily people can be drawn into racist behaviour. In principle, the juxtapostion of callous racist behaviour with classical piano music seems like a great idea; the one highlighting the other. Unfortunately, for me though this doesn't work. The relationship of the classical music students with their racist thug friends feels unrealistic rather than thought-provoking. The transition of one of the characters from open-minded to bigoted, laughing heartily at the discomfort of tormented immigrants, is far too sudden and extreme to feel believable.
There are segments of this film which are quite brilliant, especially when the camera observes the characters in their mundane lives, but the structure of the film as a whole is less successful. 100 minutes should be long enough to create a real feeling of mounting tension, but instead the main plotline is dealt with in too cursory a fashion and heavily loaded into the final stages of the film.
All in all, really not bad but not great. I would definitely be interested to see what this director does next.
Centred on the relationship of two gifted piano-student brothers with their aimless peers, the film explores how easily people can be drawn into racist behaviour. In principle, the juxtapostion of callous racist behaviour with classical piano music seems like a great idea; the one highlighting the other. Unfortunately, for me though this doesn't work. The relationship of the classical music students with their racist thug friends feels unrealistic rather than thought-provoking. The transition of one of the characters from open-minded to bigoted, laughing heartily at the discomfort of tormented immigrants, is far too sudden and extreme to feel believable.
There are segments of this film which are quite brilliant, especially when the camera observes the characters in their mundane lives, but the structure of the film as a whole is less successful. 100 minutes should be long enough to create a real feeling of mounting tension, but instead the main plotline is dealt with in too cursory a fashion and heavily loaded into the final stages of the film.
All in all, really not bad but not great. I would definitely be interested to see what this director does next.
