La jeune fille et les paysans

An adaptation of a Nobel prize-winning novel from the makers of Loving Vincent using the same rotoscoped oil painting animation style, that's enough to be interested in this. But with the experience from Loving Vincent, they set out to make it even better. With dynamic camera movements that are meant to give an experience rooted in Polish culture and village life, this movie does an incredible job of immersing the viewers in this world. Kamila Urzedowska is incredible as Jagna, the village beauty, whose life is decided by others at every step yet can't take away her free-spiritedness, even with all the shackles. Even though, the story is a classic European village tragedy, the music and animation take it to another level. That ending sequence is just so incredibly shot and animated that it's impossible to not be moved after watching this. Much of the film would've been a lot harder to watch if it was live-action, even though it is quite hard even in this rotoscoped animated style.

My take is not yet another "tale of young woman breaking bonds and social..." thing. The "young woman" narrative is a red herring, in my opinion. It misses the point. Every charactet in this amazing feat of acting, art, and production is us. We are all "peasants", more or less. That reflects the soul of the early 20th century book by Raymont. From the snarling biddies, to the destructive frustrated son of the rich landowner, to Jagna, all are laboring under the peasant burden of delusion and superstition. Some do so nobly, others make their mission that of violently curating and exorcising a scapegoat.

Let me start of with the fact that the visuals are absolutely stunning. Im still shoked that a movie was made with oil paintings and to know its a polish movie fills my heart with pride. The breathteaking views of polish conutryside really filled my heart with joy and nostalgia. The lighting, colors, and placement of everything in each scene was extremely nicely done and helped deliver the movie through visuals. Accompanied by dynamic, imaginative music it was quite the pleasure to watch.

It was such a raw movie, showing off so much polish culture unfiltered. The beautiful and the ugly. Dancing, music, ordinary life with lingering judgment, envy and hate. I have not personally read the original book so i cannot judge this movie in regards to it but im sure its a really good adaptration and ill definitely give the book a read.

Watching the movie you wonder whose in the right and eventually realize that its no one. All characters are flawed in different ways, and thats whats so beautiful and real about this.

Why didnt i give it 10/10? Well as much as i loved it i dont think i fully connected with its story on a personal level, and at moments i couldn't really wrap my head around the plot.

I'm however really confident about this movie going to the Oscars.

Wow... I did not expect this movie to be as incredible as it was!

As a Pole raised in England, I haven't touched bases with a lot of Polish literature. But this movie (based off of the Nobel Prize nominated book) was a great experience.

Not only is it beautifully made and animated, the story was extremely tragic and real.

All of the characters are greatly developed, the plot is enticing, and the music is just perfect.

I would recommend this movie to everyone, Polish or not. Not only is it insight and commentary on past Poland, but also on masculinity, femininity, class, and community.

10/10.

Every man IS a pig, and every woman too, in this adaptation of Wladyslaw Reymont's Nobel Prize-winning novel about life in a 19th Century village. A young woman, Jagna, digs for gold when she marries a wealthy and much older widower. When she continues seeing the man's son on the side, she gets in trouble with both father and son. Jagna tries to chart her own path. "I don't need help from men," she says "I've had enough of their help already."

This resplendent and heart rending live-action film was created with 40,000 frames of oil paintings. It features revamped Polish folk songs, compelling dialogue, and raucous, energetic dance sequences. The detailed artwork adds contrast, light, color, and emotion to the performances of the actors. It was tough for the actors who had to perform before green screens sometimes, but they persevered.

The husband-and-wife team of directors were present for the world premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. DK dedicated the film to her father who supported her, and to "all the women who are making difficult choices and standing for who they are." The directors explored the use of artificial intelligence but thought it lacked human touch, sensibility, and the element of surprise. The composer who did an incredible job of adapting Polish folk music to fit the film's format, jokingly told the directors, "I spent more time with you than with my wife, so sorry if she doesn't talk to you anymore." The film took four years to make.