Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		5.0

Cold War Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 29, 2019

Winner of Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival, Pawel Pawlikowski's "Cold War" (2018) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; video programs with cast and crew interviews; filmed conversation between Pawel Pawlikowski and Alejandro G. Iñárritu; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by film critic Stephanie Zacharek as well as technical credits. In Polish, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The man who they said betrayed them

True love can never be corrupted. It can be tested, but when it is, it only gets stronger. Pawel Pawlikowski’s new film, Cold War, is about that kind of love -- pure, indestructible, eternal.

The location is the director’s homeland, Poland, a little over a decade after WWII has ended and the communists have started building their workers’ paradise. Deep into the countryside, two ethnomusicologists are recording unique folk tunes that later on will be examined and considered for use by a big troupe. The best ones will be arranged by Wiktor (Tomaz Kot), a brilliant pianist, composer, and conductor, who is in charge with the project and has the final word on what is worth preserving and using.

During an audition, Wiktor meets Zula (Joanna Kulig), a beautiful singer whose vocal range and ability to effortlessly move through different styles instantly separates her from the rest of the performers. By the end of the audition Wiktor realizes that Zula also has a fearless soul and she captivates his imagination. When later on she joins the troupe and rehearsals are officially initiated, the two begin a secret affair. But like everyone else in the troupe the two are constantly monitored by known and unknown government informers who are always on the lookout for ‘traitors’ and ‘foreign spies’, which further complicates their already very difficult relationship.

Two crucial events permanently alter the nature of this relationship. The first occurs after Zula makes a shocking confession but Wiktor refuses to walk away from her. The second comes after the already very successful troupe is invited to perform at a prestigious international festival in East Berlin where communist leaders and high-ranking officials from all across the Soviet Bloc have gathered to promote the virtues of the proletariat. Wiktor reveals to Zula that on the night of their final stage appearance he plans to cross into the French sector and asks her to join him, but even though initially she agrees the two never meet and he exits the Soviet sector alone.

Pawlikowski breaks the narrative into multiple episodes that sometimes cover rather large chunks of time, but the progression of Wiktor and Zula’s relationship does not feel rushed. The current structure actually prevents the film from becoming too melodramatic and in some crucial areas too sympathetic to the evolving feelings of its two protagonists. The movement from Poland to Paris to Yugoslavia and back to Poland also makes it quite easy to sense that very specific stillness in the air that the Cold War introduced, and because of it the contrasts between the realities of life on the opposite sides of the Wall could not be any more striking.

Music has a particularly important role in this film. Much like Wiktor and Zula’s relationship it goes through different cycles and at times barely survives the madness. For example, in Paris, where Wiktor settles down, in the night clubs brilliant jazz musicians ignite the crowds with spectacular improvisational skills, while back in Poland powerful apparatchiks are seen clamping down on artistic expression and demanding that the arts are used to support the Party’s agenda. (There is a particularly grotesque but actually incredibly authentic segment early into the film where a clueless high-ranking apparatchik reveals that he has finally figured out what makes traditional Polish music special, and later on he becomes one such ‘innovator’ that demands that Wiktor finds a way to incorporate the Party’s message in his work with the troupe).

The use of the 1.37:1 ratio introduces a vintage quality to the visuals that is most appropriate. On top of this, Pawlikowski is such a gifted stylist that it feels like nearly every other frame of his film was meant to end up in a special magazine highlighting the work of a brilliant photographer. This isn’t an exaggeration, as the lensing truly is quite incredible.

*This writer also liked how the film remains slightly introverted, leaving the impression that bits of Wiktor and Zula’s story were spared from the public’s eye. Whether intentional or not, it feels right because Pawlikowski dedicated the film to his parents, whose story was apparently just as special.

Cold War Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Pawel Pawlikowski's Cold War arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The film looks gorgeous in high-definition, which does not surprise me at all because I am certain that Criterion's release was sourced from the same master that the folks at Curzon/Artificial Eye worked with when earlier this year they prepared this Region-B release. I viewed it in its entirety tonight and then did some random comparisons with the previous release, and I could not see any meaningful discrepancies to point out in our review. Depth, clarity, and fluidity are simply superb. On my system, I did not see any fluctuations in the values of the primaries and their supportive nuances either -- the blacks, whites, and variety of grays look identical to me. Image stability is excellent. Finally, there are no transfer-specific anomalies to report. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content). .

Cold War Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Polish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless 5.1 track is excellent. It is almost certainly an exact replica of the original theatrical mix, which is why the dynamic contrasts and nuances are so impressive. It is true that this should not be surprising because the film is so recent, but I think that it is something that is still worth pointing out.

Cold War Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - an original theatrical trailer for Cold War. Music only, with English text. (2 min).

• Cannes Press Conference - presented here is the full press conference that was held at the Cannes Films Festival where in 2018 the film won Best Director Award. Pawel Pawlikowski is joined by actors Joanna Kulig, Tomasz Kot and Borys Szyc, producer Ewa Puszczyriska, and cinematographer Lukasz Zal. In English, with additional audio translation where necessary. (29 min, 1080i).

• Behind the Scenes of "Cod War" - in this program, director Pawel Pawlikowski, actor Tomasz Kot, and cinematographer Lukasz Zal, amongst others, discuss the conception of Cold War, the unique use of sound throughout the film, its visual style and period ambience, etc. Footage from the dance rehearsals that were done for the mass numbers is included as well. The program was produced by the Polish Film Institute in 2018. (16 min, 1080i).

• The Making of Cold War - this program features short interviews with various cast members and Pawel Pawlikowsk, as well as raw footage from the shooting of Cold War where the director is seen discussing and working on key segments from the film. The program was produced by MK2 in 2018. In English and Polish, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (14 min, 1080p).

• Pawel Pawlikowski - presented here is a filmed conversation between director Pawel Pawlikowski and fellow filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu (The Revenant). The subject of the conversation is the evolution of Cold War, from script to screen, and its themes and reception. Also, there are some very interesting comments about the different directors and films that had an impact on Pawel Pawlikowski and his maturation as a director. The conversation was recorded exclusively for Criterion in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 2019. In English, not subtitled. (38 min, 1080p).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by film critic Stephanie Zacharek as well as technical credits.

Cold War Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There was so much in Cold War that I was instantly able to relate to that at one point it actually felt a bit eerie. Yes, all of the praise that the film has received since its premiere at Cannes is deserved because it is a visual stunner, but it also very accurately recreates an ugly period that should never be forgotten. Most people that see the film will rightfully be captivated by the two brilliant leads, but the large supporting cast and especially the folks that worked on its soundtrack deserve just as much credit because their contributions are equally good. Criterion's technical presentation of Cold War is outstanding. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.