3. Ida
Whereas Father James has his faith tested following on from a death threat in Calvary, Ida, the title character in Pawe Pawlikowski's exceptional film, find herself confronting aspects of her past she wasn't aware of after her prioress instructs her to visit her family before taking her vows. Leaving the convent she visits her aunt, a judge working for the Stalinist regime, who informs her of her Jewish origins, and together they set out to track down her parents' final resting place. The first thing that strikes you watching Ida is the stunning monochrome cinematography and the many striking compositions, often featuring the characters positioned in close ups in the bottom corner of the screen with a vast canvas sprawling out behind them utilising depth of field to incredible effect. This creates a striking juxtaposition between the intensely personal nature of Ida's journey and the stark, vast landscapes she traverses through. Pawlikowski's story might be minimalist, but a picture tells a thousand words, and virtually every frame of Ida wouldn't look out of place hung on a gallery wall. It's a delicate portrait of a young woman questioning her faith exquisitely told.