Tricks
Encyclopedia
Tricks, is a 2007 Polish film
written, directed and produced by Andrzej Jakimowski
starring Damian Ul, Ewelina Walendziak and Tomasz Sapryk. Tricks is Andrzej Jakimowski's follow up to Squint Your Eyes , his 2002 debut.
. This is the story of siblings Stefek, 6, and Elka, 18, along with Elka's car mechanic boyfriend Jerzy during one sun-drenched summer. The siblings live with their shopkeeper mother. Their father has left their mother for another woman, unaware of Stefek's existence. After a chance encounter at the local railway station, and despite a denial by his sister that this was his father, Stefek decides to challenge fate to engineer another meeting. He believes that the chain of events he sets in motion will help him get closer to his father who abandoned his mother. His sister Elka teaches him how to bribe fate with small sacrifices. Tricks played, coupled with a number of coincidences eventually bring the father to the mother's shop but the long awaited re-union does not immediately materialise as expected. As a last chance Stefak tries his good luck with the most risky of his tricks.
whilst at the same time gaining critics' approval. Iain Millar from the American channel Bloomberg wrote in his review: "The success of Sztuczki is due mostly to the incredible intuition of Jakimowski as a director. Although not nominated for the bigger awards, Tricks received attention from many film festivals. The film was chosen as Poland's official submission to the 81st Academy Awards
for Best Foreign Language Film
.
Cinema of Poland
The history of cinema in Poland is almost as long as history of cinematography, and it has universal achievements, even though Polish movies tend to be less commercially available than movies from several other European nations....
written, directed and produced by Andrzej Jakimowski
Andrzej Jakimowski
Andrzej Jakimowski is a Polish film director, writer and producer, best known for directing the films Squint Your Eyes and Tricks .-Squint Your Eyes:...
starring Damian Ul, Ewelina Walendziak and Tomasz Sapryk. Tricks is Andrzej Jakimowski's follow up to Squint Your Eyes , his 2002 debut.
Plot
A charming bittersweet narrative unfolds from director Andrzej JakimowskiAndrzej Jakimowski
Andrzej Jakimowski is a Polish film director, writer and producer, best known for directing the films Squint Your Eyes and Tricks .-Squint Your Eyes:...
. This is the story of siblings Stefek, 6, and Elka, 18, along with Elka's car mechanic boyfriend Jerzy during one sun-drenched summer. The siblings live with their shopkeeper mother. Their father has left their mother for another woman, unaware of Stefek's existence. After a chance encounter at the local railway station, and despite a denial by his sister that this was his father, Stefek decides to challenge fate to engineer another meeting. He believes that the chain of events he sets in motion will help him get closer to his father who abandoned his mother. His sister Elka teaches him how to bribe fate with small sacrifices. Tricks played, coupled with a number of coincidences eventually bring the father to the mother's shop but the long awaited re-union does not immediately materialise as expected. As a last chance Stefak tries his good luck with the most risky of his tricks.
Cast
- Damian Ul as Stefek
- Ewelina Walendziak as Elka
- Tomasz SaprykTomasz SaprykTomasz Sapryk is a Polish actor. He appeared in the television series Aby do świtu... in 1992. In 2007, he won a Polish Film Award Eagle for Best Supporting Actor in Sztuczki .-References:...
as Father of Stefek and Elka - Rafal Guzniczak as Jerzy
- Iwona Fornalczyk as Mother of Stefek and Elka
- Joanna LiszowskaJoanna LiszowskaJoanna Liszowska , is a Polish actress, singer and model.In 2007, Liszowska won the 2nd season of the Polish edition of "Soapstar Superstar" .- Filmography :...
as Violka - Andrzej Golejewski as Homless
- Grzegorz Stelmaszewski as Turek
- Simeone Matarelli as Leone
Distribution and response
Tricks received a warm reception from the audience at the Venice Film FestivalVenice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
whilst at the same time gaining critics' approval. Iain Millar from the American channel Bloomberg wrote in his review: "The success of Sztuczki is due mostly to the incredible intuition of Jakimowski as a director. Although not nominated for the bigger awards, Tricks received attention from many film festivals. The film was chosen as Poland's official submission to the 81st Academy Awards
81st Academy Awards
The 81st Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2008 and took place February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST...
for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
.
Awards
- Polish Film FestivalPolish Film FestivalThe Polish Film Festival is an annual film festival first held in Gdańsk, now held in Gdynia, Poland....
- Best Cinematography - Adam Bajerski
- Golden Lion - Andrzej Jakimowski
- São Paulo International Film FestivalSão Paulo International Film FestivalThe São Paulo International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in São Paulo, Brazil since 1976. In 2004 Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami was a member of the jury.-International Jury Award:*2001: The New Country ...
- Special Jury Award - Andrzej Jakimowski
- Tokyo International Film FestivalTokyo International Film FestivalTokyo International Film Festival is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biannually from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter...
- Best Actor Award - Damian Ul
- Venice Film FestivalVenice Film FestivalThe Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
- Label Europa Cinemas - Andrzej Jakimowski
- Laterna Magica Prize - Andrzej Jakimowski
Nominations
- São Paulo International Film FestivalSão Paulo International Film FestivalThe São Paulo International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in São Paulo, Brazil since 1976. In 2004 Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami was a member of the jury.-International Jury Award:*2001: The New Country ...
- International Jury Award - Andrzej Jakimowski
- Tokyo International Film FestivalTokyo International Film FestivalTokyo International Film Festival is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biannually from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter...
- Tokyo Grand Prix - Andrzej Jakimowski
External links
- Rotten Tomato website (currently broken, 20 September 2009)