Joanna (I) (2013) User Reviews

Like most of the documentaries nominated, rather painful to watch.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 15 February 2015]

"Joanna" is a Polish film about a woman who is dying from cancer. It focuses a lot on her relationship with her son (who appears to be about six years-old) as well as a bit less attention on her partner. There really isn't a lot to it--just snippets over a period of months as she sickens and anticipates death. Oddly, despite the super-depressing subject matter, I felt a bit detached from all this--possibly because I went through cancer myself at a young age like the lady in the film. It's well made but it didn't seem to offer much in the way of hope or direction---just a lady going through the motions with her family until she dies.

Put your problems in a perspective.

[zelajtys · 10/10 · 19 January 2015]

Truly one of the best documentaries I've seen. Ultimate ending. I have no idea how can you make such a sad film with an optimistic feeling... Scenes are cut short, to never fully let you soak in the depth of her condition until the end, and even then the future has been created already with her presence via the messages. I guess everyone is aware of the cancer, what it does physically and mentally, in this film, we can also see what it does to the family, the son and the ultimate aftermath. Your own problems will not seem the same once you will watch this. Prepare yourself for some crying, even you think you are a tough cookie. Life and a movie has never been this close, or this real.

Masterpiece, worth an Oscar.

Achingly Beautiful

[ShaqsGreatestHits · 21 February 2015]

A stunning work of exquisite poignancy, Joanna is miles ahead of its competition IMO. I came in knowing nothing about the film, but deduced that Joanna was terminally ill about 3 minutes in. Once realizing that, one understands that this is an eloquent love letter to her son and husband -- a celebration of their life together rather than a documentation of her death.

Every sequence of inconsequential banter between Mother and Son becomes desperately precious, and every moment shared between Wife and Husband is full of tenderness and love. This delicate story flows seamlessly from screen to audience thanks to the wonderful eye of the director; many of the shots are truly gorgeous and the overall craft is sound.

Above all, Joanna is a deeply personal film that presents the audience with an honest account of life and death, of beauty and sadness, of strength and vulnerability. One could only hope to be as valiant as Joanna and her husband were in the face of such adversity. A heartbreaking work of immense beauty, and a treasure that Joanna's son and husband will surely cherish.