Early in the superb black-and-white film Cold War, a young singer is practicing with a young pianist. Light streams through the window. The furniture and walls are old. The door is closed. The singer is Zula (Joanna Kulig), a peasant girl with a beautiful voice and an unstable personality; the pianist is Wiktor (Tomasz Kot), a moody and laconic musical director at the rural music academy (cows, chickens, and other farm animals always nearby). The musician thinks the singer is an original and rare spirit. During a sudden break from practice, Zula, who has a mysterious past, asks Wiktor if he is interested in her voice or interested in her in a general way. Wicktor does not answer, and resumes playing the piano. He is in love with her, and that's all there is to it.

Zula eventually falls in love with the musician and their grand and often boozy romantic adventure begins. It takes them to Warsaw, then to Berlin, then to Paris. They have sex for the first time in the first city. They break up for the first time in the next city. They meet again and begin a turbulent relationship in the third. In between, they have relationships with other people, and deal with the realities of Cold War politics. When together, they are madly in love, fight a lot, and make beautiful jazz. The film has a perfect ending.

Cold War is really just a movie about love. What is this thing? What does it do to you? And, as in the '90s tune by Kate Bush and Prince "Why Should I Love You," isn't it strange, bizarre, maddening that all of the love you have to give is imprisoned by just one person in the whole wide world? This is Cold War, and this is also why the film's director, Pawel Pawlikowski, shot very conventional sex scenes. There is nothing like hot sex between Zula and Wiktor. They do not tear off their clothes and go wild in bed and all of that kind of thing. They're in love, and every day must endure the curse of a passion that knows no time and space.

Cold War opens at SIFF Cinema Egyptian tomorrow (January 18). For more reviews, visit our Film & TV page. For a complete breakdown of films screening this weekend, visit our Movie Times page.