Counterinterpretation in film criticism: The case of “Ida” by Paweł Pawlikowski
Counterinterpretation in film criticism: The case of “Ida” by Paweł Pawlikowski

Summary/Abstract: The objective of this text is to discuss a lack of interest in the religious context of the award-winning film Ida by Pawel Pawlikowski. Moral choices within the film prove to be of greater concern to the director than political questions. Nonetheless, the film continues to generate reactions in right wing nationalist circles – and not only in Poland. From the point of view of thematic story and plot, the film is a historical drama with the possibility of a wide spectrum of interpretation. From the point of view of a conflict between Anna’s Christian believes (as a novice in a convent who is in the process of preparing to take her final religious vows) and her Jewish heritage she has to choose between The Old and The New Testament. Her family was killed by Poles and Ida/Anna has a dilemma: to follow the Old Testament law: “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, or to obey The New Testament principle: “That ye resist not evil. But whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also”. Ida chooses to follow principles of the New Testament and returns to the convent?

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