Sweat

I think I have a problem with art movies, when I watch French movies, cannes choices or other festival films, I don't know what I say after finishing. For example in this movie, what was the main thing? I cannot decide, life of influencer? Beautiful girl with mother problems? Too much social media? I think after movie, yo have to watch online conversation with director and casting. It is really more enlightening than movie.

Magdalena Kolesnik does a masterful job in this tough and uncomfortable movie regarding fame, social media and private vs. Public life. While some people could be turn off because of being somewhat a slow-burner, I was in the story of this woman the whole time. Great movie!

A movie that delves into the life of a successful fitness influencer. The trappings of fame... The loneliness of online popularity... The dangers of opening yourself up to public obsession... All of those are interesting subjects that could make for a riveting story. "Sweat" doesn't quite hold the attention well enough to recommend. It all feels shallow and underdeveloped. A decent try -- well acted -- but hollow.

Sweat shines on so many levels and is a breath of fresh air in so many ways. The combination of intense close up facial camera work and hyper realistic acting give this movie a modern, uncomfortable, interrogational edge in keeping with the forensic scrutiny of anyone living in the modern media influencer bubble. The excellent, nuanced lead performance of Magdalena Kolesnik as Sylwia has plenty of other great performances to bounce off of, particularly her mother, played by Aleksandra Kolieczna. The intimate, unflinching, naturalistic directional style of Magnus Von Horn is showed off to maximum effect in the conversational scenes between Sylwia and an old school acquaintance in a shopping mall and later with a large family group around a dinner table. In both cases all performers seem totally natural and oblivious to the camera giving the film a wonderfully voyeuristic overtone... loved it.

Good movie, but at the end I had a perception of a good idea a little badly developed. Some points of this world of web celebrities could be better explored. However, the director was sutil and soft in certains points of views, as in the triviality of relationships, in the loneliness and in the corrosive relation with the protagonist's mother.