TRICKS
by Andrzej Jakimowski.
Poland, 2007, 1h32.

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Charming. Stratagems and elaborate games of a little boy in a small Polish town aimed at attracting the attention of the biological father, who abandoned the family. One cannot say that this film, with ideal summer mood, lacks charm. In a certain way, it develops, just like the fatalist Kieslowski, the thematic path of the chance (more or less concentred), however, completely leaving behind the sad tonality. Jakimowski does not hesitate to add some artificiality to the good mood, by blending the provincial chronicle with a refrain à la Nino Rota, which reminds of the Italian cinema of old (by the way, the young heroine is just learning the language of Dante). The film reminds also of

Jacques Tati, although here the mechanics of the realization is less rigorous and has less rhythm. In short, the story is purposefully situated in the past — with its hedonist carefreeness it reminds us of a certain type of comedies from the 60’s. With no detriment to our pleasure, it is missing a bit of reality and truth. It is a missed opportunity to talk about today’s Poland, the one that is hardly ever seen in the cinemas.