11. september 2008, oppdatert 10. september 2008


TRICKS
Drama
Written and directed by Andrzej Jakimowski
Poland 2007

A Polish inconspicuous, blithe movie, streaked with a philosophical overtone and a bit of magic realism.

Fortunately, Tricks is not burdened with the dull, sad and heavy socialist realism, frequently associated with Polish films. Though the director Andrzej Jakimowski filmed everything in a squalid town, he has succeeded in making it look cozy, lovely and interesting. Thus, Tricks is a pleasant reminder of the fact that it happens to be pretty nice in poor small towns, too. Jakimowski has dedicated his film, whose story is based on his own relationship with his sister throughout his adolescence, to his own sister. His alter ego in the movie is Stefek (Damian Ul), a lonely eight-year-old boy, who spends days alone playing with sticks and tin soldiers. He follows his elder sister Elka (Ewelina Walendziak) and her boyfriend Jerzy (Rafał GuŸniczak), a car mechanic, like a doggie deprived of affection.
Stefek is a little bit cuddly and highly imaginative child, first of all missing a strong figure of his father. Maybe it's that strange man who changes trains at the local station, commuting to work every day? Anyway, his features resemble a little bit Stefek's dad in the old photograph the boy always carries with him. Elka is too busy with looking for some office job to be bothered with her brother wittering on about it, but Stefek is sure it must be true. So he carries out his ambitious plan to keep the man in the town long enough to reunite him with Stefek's mother. Seen from this angle, the film is a bittersweet, optimistic story of family ties. The relationship between Stefek and his elder sister Elka is authentic, and the small details are observed perfectly well. In the beginning one has the impression that's simply a collection of pictures of the Polish small-town life, yet a focal point of the story becomes a young boy who has set his heart on finding his father. The main theme is, then, the deceptiveness of fate. While Stefek's elder sister Elka prefers letting things come as they are, leaving everything to chance, he is more active when it comes to his luck. The boy takes control of his fate, guided by his childlike faith that he will be able to reach the most difficult goals. The director obviously thinks so, too, therefore the movie has a fine moral: we can tip fate in our favor if we venture to make such an attempt.
Tricks may be a bit tangled, and the sulky Stefek is oftentimes too tiresome a protagonist to spend ninety minutes in his company. Perhaps it is not a monumental film experience, rather a nice small film with a still relevant appeal and hopeful philosophy of everyday life.
As an added bonus we can see the film Varde by Hanna Larsen, nominated for this year's Amanda Award in the best short film category. Worth seeing!
ESPEN SVENNINGSEN RAMBOL

online version:
http://www.dagsavisen.no/kultur/filmer/article368089.ece