ReFocus: The Films of Pawel Pawlikowski

Recognised as one of the most significant contemporary directors, Pawel Pawlikowski achieved global acclaim with the Academy Award-winning Ida (2013). ReFocus: The Films of Pawel Pawlikowski is the first book-length study of the director’s illustrious career, spanning nearly four decades and two countries – Great Britain and Poland. This volume traces Pawlikowski’s artistic journey, from early, lesser-known BBC documentaries to breakthrough international successes like Last Resort (2000), My Summer of Love (2004), and the critically acclaimed Cold War (2018).

Through in-depth analysis of his films, the book uncovers recurring themes such as identity, love, memory, and journeys, often set against historical and social upheavals. It examines his distinctive style – marked by minimalist visuals – arguing that with atmospheric modernist aesthetics, Pawlikowski not only consciously develops the tradition of European art film but also demonstrates the continued significance of authorship in a transnational context.