Finally got around to watching a DVD on Ida I'v had knocking about for a year, you could say its a little clichéd in its subject mater perhaps, pretty much a checklist for expected eastern Europe arthouse cinema(black and white, the holocaust, nuns, beat up commie cars, jazz, etc) but ultimately I think its carried off well enough to rise above becoming any kind of cliche. I'm struggling to think of many films that are compositionally as strong, you could pause it at pretty much any moment and end up with a very interesting still image, Agata Kulesza is excellent in it as well selling built up resentment/guilt without chewing the scenery.
