Sala samobójców

I found this movie to be absolutely incredible, the acting was moving and so believable. Jakub Gierszal (Dominik Santorski) portrays what every teenager goes through at one point or another only he experiences what happens when no one asks the right questions or in this instance doesn't ask anything at all. It makes me sad to think that this is a reality for some and that the world around them have no idea what's happening. I urge everyone to see this movie and take note of the people around you, more often than not it's the ones that don't ask for help who need it the most. In my humble option I thought this movie brilliant and deserves more exposure than it got.

This is a story that depicts loneliness and darkness and directed by Jan Komasa. Domink is a high school student who is only an son and was brought up in a wealthy family. Although he hides his wonder as to whether he might be a gay, he is an ordinary high school student, keeping in touch with friends on Facebook, laughing at a shocking video with them, and doing well with his life until his senior prom before graduation. His parents, always busy with their jobs, have created a barrier called isolation to keep him away. Dominik still manages himself in everyday life, but jokingly kissing Aleksander at a party unfolds Dominik's secret sense of homosexuality. Meanwhile, the kiss with the two boys is uploaded and hits a public relations on the net instantly. Whilst Domink enjoys the tension from the video and the comments at first, he becomes the laughingstock and his affection towards Aleksander ends up as a sense of betrayal. This causes him to become an outcast. Then, Dominik is invited into the chat room of virtual world called "Suicide Room" by a girl who can't find any hope in the real world. Whilst talking with the girl in the virtual world, he starts withdrawing from the real world, being attracted by her negative and mysterious allurement.

The story is well-conceived, expressing the changes of Dominik's psychological state: ordinary adolescence, close-mindedness, withdrawal, mental confusion, symptom of depression, etc. There is a distance in the worlds between the world where his parents and the psychologist live, and the world where Dominik lives. There is also his psychological condition where the diremption is making everything in his everyday life shut away from the real world, and his mental state that makes him attempt suicide. This makes the audience feel as if it is letting them walk through an endless, dark tunnel that has no exit. The net may make you feel platonic and eternity in a sense. Once you go out, you will see many people out there. Even though people may feel like they are connecting with each other through SNS, they may also feel isolated as if they are a grain of sand in the desert. This film well-depicted such distortion created in the net within the modern society. The ending is negative, leaving every question unanswered to the audience. The theme of the story, a person falls into a virtual world since he/she doesn't fit in anywhere, which may be a possible story. However, this will ring the heavy bell of your heart.

When I heard about what this movie will be about I was already sure, that I'll watch it no matter what. But in fact, I was afraid that Polish directors will release another crappy movie with no meaning. But I was nicely surprised. Storyline is very interesting, actors are great, characters are deep and realistic. It was certainly worth to see this, it changed my point of view on some things. Also it was something new to combine classical acting with computer simulations. If I could loose memories from the day I watched this movie just to watch it again, I'd do it, because it's a really worthy piece of art. Best movie I've seen in months.

I admit having read about the movie prior to watching it, and which brings me to say that the Wikipedia article of it is inaccurate. A low budget movie, but undeniably a good one; I feel that it hasn't been a story dramatic enough, while paradoxically I think that, much have been subtly underlie-d, which may either make it a movie about a guy who who couldn't take it, or about a guy, who is like many of us, or at least shares intrinsic aspects of ourselves, and who couldn't take it despite that he wanted to. A very fine actor, I was nearly convinced that I was watching something/one real, something/one that is actually happening/actually lived and died - it/he had me engrossed. Uhm. 4.8/5

To be honest, I hesitated to go to the cinema because I was afraid that it's just another overrated (by media only) Polish film. However, I am very glad to announce that this film is REALLY worth being seen! Apart from an amazing performance of Jakub Gierszał and Agata Kulesza, you can admire excellent special effects together with well-written dialogs. Even though the idea of animation which is presented in the film may put somebody off, it should be pointed out that it actually fits perfectly well into the picture. 'Sala samobójców' shows the rules which are brought to life in modern world and leaves it to the audience to decide whether we should apply them in our own lives. I would recommend this film to everybody who is mature enough to appreciate its beauty and depth. For me, it was a real treat. Enjoy!