Solid 4 // Epic in scope, short in length

Rating: 8/10 (9 February 2019)

The trailer for Cold War suggests a languid, intimate romance set to a series of shuffling cool-jazz ballads. The film itself, however, delivers something much wider and surprisingly ambitious in scope. It's an epic, decades-spanning romance told in an incredibly tight hour-and-a-half. The passionate romance suggested by the trailer is certainly at the core, but layered around it are themes of obsession, disordered personality, art vs. politics, nationalism, classism, exploitation, and tyranny. The film accomplishes so much in such a short period of time that it's hard not to marvel at it, even if the break-neck pacing can be a bit emotionally distancing. Strip away the sociopolitical commentary and what you're left with is a powerful exploration of the pleasures and dangers of all-consuming love. See it for the unique structure, gorgeous cinematography, rich music, and thematic heft.
Solid 4/5