Joanna

An Akson Studio, Narodowe Centrum Kultury and Polish Film Institute production. Created by Michal Kwiecinski. Executive producer, Katarzyna Fukacz-Cebula. Directed, compiled by Feliks Falk.With: Urszula Grabowska, Sara Knothe, Joachim Paul Assbock, Stanislawa Celinska, Monika Kwiatkowska, Halina Labonarska, Iza Kung, Kinga Preis. (Polish, French, German dialogue)In "Joanna," the titular heroine endures constant stress by unlawfully holding a Jewish child throughout the German occupation, possibly right for the lastest film from Polish helmer Feliks Falk, whose operate in the seventies is most carefully connected using the nation's Cinema of Moral Anxiety movement. This serious, well-behaved drama reps a decent wade right into a bleak historic chapter, but can't quite avoid a feeling of familiar terrain trod more memorably. Pic's focus on closeups and something interior locale works very best in broadcast configurations. Joanna (Urszula Grabowska) is definitely an educated Warsaw resident reduced to menial work through the war time economy, while a housing shortage brings pressure on her behalf to consider additional tenants in to the spacious apartment she once distributed to a husband, missing since he was conscripted 2 yrs earlier. Eventually throughout her waitress change in a coffee shop, her clients incorporate a nervous youthful lady (Halina Labonarska) who's embarked out against her better judgement like a birthday treat for 7-year-old Roza (Sara Knothe). Their worst fears materialize once the establishment is raided by government bodies looking for Jews. Mother and daughter are separated, the first kind arrested as the child hides inside a chapel next door. She's later found there by childless Joanna, who impulsively takes the lady home for safekeeping and makes covert efforts to follow the parent's location. Child and protector rapidly bond. Already well familiar with making herself scarce, Roza understands how to stay quiet and from neighbors' sight. However the risk remains ideal for each of them, increased by Joanna's nosy landlady, the potential of having to look for a co-tenant, and possible military inspection -- all of the which indeed involves pass, departing Joanna to in some way deflect the romantic advances of the Nazi officer (Joachim Paul Assbock). A couple of a lot of crises stack up, making the pic progressively seem like a melodramatic showcase for star histrionics. (Grabowska duly won actress nods in the Moscow Fest and Polish Film Honours.) A number of Roza's dialogue is a touch too precocious, despite Knothe's solid perf. Still, Falk with confidence imbues the pic using the solemn weight essential for the storyline to attain a minimum of a number of its preferred tragic energy. Color scheme is moderate, score sometimes a tad overbearing. The very first Bay Area Jewish Fest screening was on forecasted HD, because of a shipping delay within the 35mm print.Camera (color), Piotr Sliskowski editor, Krzysztof Szpetmanski music, Bartek Gliniak production designer, Anna Wunderlich costume designer, Magdalena Biedrzycka seem (Dolby Digital), Maria Chilarecka casting, Ewa Brodzka. Examined at Bay Area Jewish Film Festival, This summer 27, 2011. (Also in Moscow Film Festival.) Running time: 108 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com