Crows (1994) User Reviews

Raw and Beautiful Meditation!

[samxxxul · 7/10 · 6 September 2020]

The story of a lonely 9-year-old girl who kidnaps a much younger girl for a day and treat her as if it were her own child. The film unfolds as the camera follows the 2 characters and the director examines Wrony's childhood feelings of loneliness or rejection--and the explorations that all of humans are subject to. It's a charming film, despite the dark nature of the story telling. What I found was probably the one of most intelligent coming-of-age films I've seen with minimalistic approach. All of the performances are right on target and the director has woven a tapestry of individual scenes that sparkle with truth and innocence. The acting by Wrona (Karolina Ostrozna) and the little girl is superb. There is an element of fantasy in the surface of the mind but nothing off-putting or tedious like so many American or French films. And it is precisely the eye of Wrony to set the narrative and above all perceptual structure of the film. The director of photography does a good job and captures very intense shots. It focuses on the nature linked to the girl's totems: scattered Clouds, waves, balloon with bold tones contrasting with the heavy and bleak narrative. Overall, CROW is a tale that may not have a happy ending but brings an impressive realism of longing for love and where the joy lies in the smallest and simplest experiences. I bet arthouse fans will appreciate the naivety and sincerity of this movie.

Simply Beautiful

[Ralfscheapthrill · 10/10 · 15 January 2005]

One of my favorites. Pictures, acting, music, sound all matches perfectly. The both girls are a mystery. Kedzierzawska told at the Berlinale, that after months of casting they already began shooting but the young actors failed and right on the marketplace in the city they shot, they found their "substitutes". Good example of the typical (?) polish way to mix fairy tale - atmosphere with artistic strength and docu-like approach to reality. It could change your view on childhood forever. AND it never crosses the thin red line to artsy kitsch, as unfortunately Kedzierzawskas following movie did (where she told the true story of a child murder with Hamilton-like way too soft pictures.)

Some strange games which children play.

[FilmCriticLalitRao · 10/10 · 11 September 2008]

Dorota Kedzierzawska is a fresh voice of Polish cinema.In most of her films one can discern an element of truth which is close to reality. A vast majority of her films are based on events which have happened in real life.It is for this reason that we see a mix of documentary as well as fiction in her films.Although her film "Wrony/Crows" features children as its protagonists,it should not be construed as a film for children as grown ups too have a lot to learn from it.At the core of this melancholic film is a little imp who is neglected by her family. How she takes revenge on grown ups by kidnapping a young girl remains the crux of the screenplay.Dorota Kedzierzawska has directed her film with great charm and ingenuity using a multidimensional perspective where both the kidnapped kid as well as her juvenile kidnapper are given equal attention.It is very rare for an European film to deal with touchy issue of motherhood.Crows is one of the few films which handles such a tricky issue in a deft manner.