Cudowne lato

I saw "Cudowne Lato" on PBS, as a teaser forecasting The 23rd Polish Film Festival in Chicago.

I thought the movie was very good.

The heroin of the movie is a wonderful young woman. Her face kept reminding me of Chelsea Clinton; the resemblance lies in their small weak chins, puffy cheeks, and thin, luster-less hair pulled in a pony-tail - Not your typical Hollywood starlet. But despite her homeliness, or perhaps, because of it, the heroine shines. She has an inner beauty. She is ordinary, approachable, relatable (if I may). Her character is that of a normal,young person searching for answers, and opportunities, person who's trying to establish her foothold on this Earth.

The movie is original, funny, and beautifully shot. The direction is even, and engaging. Acting very good. The story develops, our heroine matures.

The movie requires a slight suspension of reason (since it weaves-in the supernatural), but the mother-ghost shows herself only to one person - her daughter, our heroine. And it manifests itself not in reality-of-the-movie, but merely in the mind of her daughter.

P.S. Word on the title: The movie is marketed in English-speaking world as "Wonderful Summer". The original Polish title is "Cudowne Lato". "Cudowne" could be translated more directly as "Miraculous", which is a deliberate play on words.

AWARDS: 2010 Viewers Choice Award at the Seattle Polish Film Festival, and 2010 Special Jury Award at the 2010 Chicago Polish Film Festival for the most universal film of the festival.