332. The Painted Bird; movie review

 

THE PAINTED BIRD

Cert 18

169 mins

BBFC advice: Contains  strong violence, sexual violence, disturbing scenes

"You'd better watch the trailer, I am not sure you are going to be able to endure this."

My advice to Mrs W was informed by reading a couple of reviews of Václav Marhoul's The Painted Bird from critics who found it so harrowing they were glad when it was over.

That said, they also had mixed feelings because they recognised the high calibre of its acting and the skill of its cinematography.

Mrs W was glad she wasn't put off. We were glued for nearly three hours - albeit often either open-mouthed or pulling squeamish faces.

We abounded admiration for the incredible performance of young Petr Kotlár who plays a Jewish boy who had been entrusted by his parents to what turned out to be a cruel aunt.

She befalls tragedy and so he is left to wander through countryside, encountering villagers and soldiers whose humanity has been lost to war.

The boy sees and suffers the very worst brutality and yet, somehow finds ways to survive when others don't.

He is even buried alive and has his head pecked by crows (that was when we were pulling our squeamish faces).

Kotlár has back-up from a star-studded international cast including Udo Kier, Stellan Skarsgård, Harvey Keitel, Julian Sands and Barry Pepper. 

The movie is split into separate stories as the boy encounters different groups of people.

Sadly, few show him tenderness. Indeed, he is more likely to be abused than helped.

To add to its sense of deep austerity, the movie was shot in black and white. Colour would have offered some light when there really isn't any.

The Painted Bird is harrowing and gripping and I can understand those who have described it as gruelling and cruel.

But overall I would describe it as remarkable and certainly memorable.

Reasons to watch: Harrowing but gripping

Reasons to avoid: Gruelling and cruel

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

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Did you know? D.G. Myers, Associate Professor of English at Texas A&M University, reviewing a biography of Jerzy Kosiński noted that initially, the author had passed off The Painted Bird as the true story of his own life during the Holocaust. It was actually a work of fiction.

The final word. Václav Marhoul: "There are those who bully another person who is younger or who is weaker, and they are really pleased to do it. They enjoy being evil. Let’s say that my access into that character, a small Jewish boy, was a personal one because I can say very openly that I did understand it much better because of the years I spent at the boarding school." RogerEbert.com

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