Tricks

^director Andrzej Jakimowski
^screenplay Andrzej Jakimowski
^{director of photography} Adam Bajerski
^music Tomasz Gąssowski
^with Damian Ul (child), Ewelina Walendziak, Tomasz Sapryk, Rafał Guźniczak, Iwona Fornalczyk, Joanna Liszowska
^{awards (selection)}   Eagle, Polish Film Award for Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Tomasz Sapryk) and Audience Prize, 2008
 Label Europe Cinemas, award of the Association ‘Europa Cinemas’ and UNICEF Award at Venice Film Festival, 2007
 Golden Prometheus and Parajanov Prize at Tbilisi International Film Festival, 2007
 Jury Special Prize and Award of Independent Cinema Owners at Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival, 2007
 Jury Special Prize at Sao Paulo International Film Festival, 2007
 prize for Damian Ul at Tokyo International Film Festival, 2007
 Human Values Award at the International Film Festival in Saloniki, 2007
 Grand Prix at Miami International Film Festival, 2008
 ’Over the borders’ Krzysztof Kieślow-ski Award at New York Polish Film Festival, 2008
 Grand Prix, Golden Lions and Best Cinematography at the 32nd Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, 2007
 Best Polish Film Award of Plus Camerimage 2007 at the 15th Anniversary Edition of the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography PLUS ‘Camerimage’ in Łódź, 2008
 Golden Film (Złota Taśma), award of the Writers Association SFP, 2007

ANDRZEJ JAKIMOWSKI, I ADORE REAL THINGS; TALK WITH PIOTR ŚMIAŁOWSKI, [UWIELBIAM RZECZY AUTENTYCZNE; ROZMOWA Z PIOTREM ŚMIAŁOWSKIM] ‘KINO’, 2007, NO. 9

The boy-hero of ‘Tricks’ is at the stage in his life when he begins experimenting with and provoking the reality around him. He discovers that in a particular way he can bring about the occurrence of certain events, although their continuation cannot be predicted. And it is precisely this unpredictability that arouses Stefek’s curiosity and hope…

TADEUSZ SOBOLEWSKI, THE WORLD INVITES US TO JOIN IN THE GAME [ŚWIAT NAS ZAPRASZA DO GRY], ‘GAZETA WYBORCZA’, 26 X 2007

In his ‘Tricks’, Jakimowski analyses the reality immediately around us, the world within reach (…). What is striking is the similarity between the boy’s operations and directing a film, which is also a kind of play with reality, an attempt to control time and space (…) The Polish cinema has acquired a director free of any complexes (…). Andrzej Jakimowski carries through a philosophical idea without infusing it with sentimentality or vulgarity. With its cautious optimism, the film chances upon the mood of the moment. The world is not complete, given once and forever. It invites us to join in the game.