Spring 2021—Wednesday, April 7
Never Gonna Snow Again
Śniegu już nigdy nie będzie
Poland, 2020, 116 minutes
Directed and written by: Malgorzata Szumowska, Michal Englertand
Principal Cast: Alec Utgoff, Maja Ostaszewska, Agata Kulesza, Weronika Rosati, Katarzyna Figura, Lukasz Simlat, Andrzej Chyra
Description
On a gray, foggy morning outside a large Polish city, Zhenia (Alec Utgoff), a masseur from the East, enters the lives of the wealthy residents of a gated community. Using hypnotic, almost magical techniques to get a residence permit, he starts working. The well-to-do residents in their cookie-cutter homes seemingly have it all, but they all suffer from an inner sadness, some unexplained longing. The attractive and mysterious newcomer's hands heal, and Zhenia’s eyes seem to penetrate their souls. The latest from writer/director Małgorzata Szumowska (Elles, In the Name of) and her longtime collaborator Michał Englert is an unclassifiable meditation on class, immigration, and global warming with touches of magical realism and moments of sober beauty and subtle humor.
Never Gonna Snow Again has been selected as Poland’s official Oscar submission this year.
“A magical film. A tour-de-force…of brilliant cinematography.” Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter
"A gently mysterious, darkly poetic tonic of the sacred and profane." Nicholas Bell, Ioncinema
"Malgorzata Szumowska hits a career high in this alluring, atmospheric tale." Guy Lodge, Variety
"Dreamlike and unnerving. A hypnotic viewing experience that awakens all senses through our eyes.” Carlos Aguilar, The Playlist