If the compensation of old age is wisdom, then 91-year-old Aniela (Danuta Szaflarska) has enough smarts to fill an iPad. In her case, however, that wisdom is neither spoiled by excessive intellect nor embittered by experience. She has simply reached that state where she knows only the things worth knowing.
Aniela is the centerpiece of this beautiful Polish tale and, in spite of the title, the tone is anything but pessimistic. Aniela's strangely sweet presence could possibly put a smile on a boa constrictor. In her view, it's only natural that death should terminate life; and besides, she has done her share of some pretty wonderful living. When it's time to go, she'll go.
The story of "Time to Die" was inspired by the personality of the lively, sprightly Szaflarska and penned by director Dorota Kedzierzawska herself. It runs like a tribute to one of Poland's greatest acting talents, whose career spans some seven decades, and Szaflarska seems so spot-on and in her element that it's hard — and perhaps even unnecessary — to distinguish the thesp from the woman she's playing.