The Painted Bird

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The Painted Bird

Released Jul 17, 2020

2h 49m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

109 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

A young Jewish boy in Eastern Europe seeks refuge during World War II.

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Critics Consensus

Brutally uncompromising in its portrayal of Nazi Germany, The Painted Bird is a difficult watch that justifies its stark horror with searing impact.

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Nick Schager

Esquire Magazine

Few films are this tough to sit through-or difficult to forget.

Jan 27, 2021

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

For all its overworked grotesqueries, it attempts an intriguing climb from the deepest pits of horror towards some kind of stoic grace.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 22, 2020

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Deals in visual poetry that compels attention even as it wallows in unkindness.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 14, 2020

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Joonatan Itkonen

Toisto.net

Without fanfare, and even less than a faint promise, it allows us to believe in a chance for something better. How, I don’t know, but I feel it deep in my bones.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 5, 2024

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

It reflects, with an atmospheric black and white, a study about evil without borders that lacerates child innocence at times of war, but in its almost three hours it gets lost in a routine of dull and banal episodes of suffering. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Nov 10, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s pitiless and unyielding conviction forces us to endure scene after scene of appalling cruelty, daring us to grow numb to it and therefore proving its bigger point.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 24, 2022

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Jeffrey P

A powerful sprawling epic across a cruel and harsh war torn landscape seen through the eyes of a child, The Painted Bird is one of the more perfect pieces of cinema one will ever see. This now holds the distinction of being the first ‘foreign film’ to earn a five-star rating from me.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/20/25

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Dani G

Powerful. Raw. Tough. Sad

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/01/24

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Audience Member

The film improves over the duration of the journey. The main actor is impressive.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/26/24

Full Review

Mary Ann F

At first I thought I'd never get through this, and as time went on, I wondered if I should I even bother. But about a third of the way through, something gripped me and didn't let go. It's actually a profound and moving film where it's not just scene after scene of horror, but rather a journey of one boy's grotesque suffering during world war II. There is definitely a narrative if you stick with it. And considering the direction of the world in 2023, we should always remind ourselves of the depravity that humans are capable of. Ten years ago, I might have naively thought these kinds of crimes would be behind us, but as our world slips into its Orwellian future, films like this are more important than ever. Those who turn away don't want to be reminded of what we can inflict upon one another, understandably so. Ultimately, the film ends on a hopeful note. Stick with it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/12/23

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Randy K

Its like defecating on a canvas and calling it art. Sadistic and brutal for the sake of nothing. Perhaps man is not redeemable, but neither is this movie.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A powerful must see Holocaust film. The child lead is absolutely outstanding. Though his character is just an innocent child caught up in genocide, he has the unstoppable will, wit and grit of the most heroic of adult soldiers.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

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Václav Marhoul

Director

Petr Kotlár

A Boy

Udo Kier

Miller

Lech Dyblik

Lekh

Jitka Cvancarová

Ludmila

Stellan Skarsgård

Hans

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The Painted Bird: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A young Jewish boy in Eastern Europe seeks refuge during World War II.

Director: Václav Marhoul
Producer: Václav Marhoul
Screenwriter: Václav Marhoul
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: PubRes, Silver Screen Partners II
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Czech
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 17, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 15, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3K
Runtime: 2h 49m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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