Scottsdale International Film Festival 2008

Aniela (Danuta Szaflarska) lives alone in a rambling wooden mansion full of the delicate ornamentation that speaks to a pre-war halcyon past, never to be recovered. The house has seen better days, and its overgrown garden and rusting iron gate offend the eyes of her neighbor, the owner of a modern concrete bungalow. He wants to buy Aniela’s house so he can tear it down. Aniela has a married son who occasionally drops by, but she suspects that he is part of the plot to take away her house. Between these visits, Aniela occupies herself by carrying on affectionate chats with her beloved dog, Fila, her companion, protector and friend. And, when she grows bored, she spies on the neighbors to discover what they might be up to. A gentle portrait of elderly paranoia mixes with remembered moments from a past that encompasses both the happy memories of evenings spent waltzing to Strauss and the harsher realities of a Communist regime. All of this acts as background for the stunning visual universe created by Kędzierzawska and her cinematographer Arthur Reinhart. They are indeed true magicians of the eye, unafraid to let the camera paint pictures in front of us. This is the special and particular terrain of this film: the thoughtful depiction of the inner life of an elderly person. Kędzierzawska and Reinhart’s series of stunning images and the unforgettable dignity of Aniela combine to make TIME TO DIE a unique film. ~ Toronto International Film Festival

AWARDS: Polish Film Festival – Audience Award / Best Actress / Best Sound / Critics Award