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Search 713 spoiler-free recommendations from 1916 to 2026. Filter by the night you want—not the list you’re supposed to finish.

Direct film viewShowing master rank #371 on its own—not above the ranking.
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Artwork
DirectorAll directors

Most represented · 6+ films

More recurring directors · 3–5 films54
All directors · surname A–Z438
ActorAll actors

Most represented actors

Big Three membership
Major award winners

1 selected film

Master Rank balances Greatness, Engagement, and Ease. Sort by Greatness for the artistic-canon view.

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View Ida film page
Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

A novice nun visits her only known relative before taking vows and begins uncovering her family history.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

Before taking vows in 1960s Poland, novice Anna visits her only living relative, Wanda Gruz. Wanda reveals that Anna was born Ida Lebenstein to Jewish parents killed during the occupation, and the women travel to learn where the family was buried.

Why it belongs

Paweł Pawlikowski frames faith and historical absence through austere square compositions, off-center bodies, silence, and two women with opposing defenses.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Under Paweł Pawlikowski, black-and-white 4:3 frames leave large empty space above Ida and Wanda, while recurring roads, graves, and convent windows give silence material presence—Agata Trzebuchowska and Agata Kulesza resist easy reconciliation.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Academy Awards1 win2015 · official ceremony record ↗

Plus 1 additional win

No headline-category win to name

BAFTA1 win2015 · official BAFTA 2015 Film Awards results ↗

Plus 1 additional win

No headline-category win to name

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Good for
Date NightFilm Club
Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.

Institutional reference ranks

Sight & Sound—IMDb Top 250—AFI 100—
Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score

Great Cinema Master List scores

Greatness8.8
Engagement8.6
Ease8.6

Polish · PG-13
Narrative Feature
Mood: Absorbing & Reflective