Ten days ago All That I Love aka Wszystko, Co Kocham,  written and directed by first-time director  Jacek Borcuch was just one of  the two hundred entries for the 2010  Sundance Festival,  and the first Polish movie ever admitted for the iconic indie film competition. Today,  four screenings and 4.5/ 5 ratings later  All That I Love has been chosen as one of the ten must-see movies of the Sundance Twenty Ten . But this is the Sundance Awards night, and it is still young!

A reviewer Adam Pelcher  wrote for  the Salt Lake magazine, “ Wielding all sorts of buzz comes the best film of the festival (well, that I’ve seen). All That I Love proves that coming-of-age story can be timeless.  Set in 1981 Poland, we follow Janek, a rebellious teenager living amid Polish socialism with fear of losing his family, friends and freedoms. Janek, played by Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, starts a punck rock band with his friends to vent his angst and vulnerability. They name the band All That I Love.”

Rachel Westrate ,  the Prospector, All That Sundance Loves: “ Music is only challenged in his ( Janek’s) life by his first love, Basia, but the political turmoil put everything Janek cares for at risk. We follow Janek (…)  as he learns who he is and the sacrifices he must make in order to keep his individuality. (…) the first Polish film to ever be entered in the Sundance Film Festival, and it is obvious what we have been missising.  The cinematography was amazing, presenting interesting shots with new view points that helped the viewer see the movie in many different lights. Jacek Borcuch skillfully combines his two loves – music and film – into one beautifully crafted presentation.”

Director Jacek Borcuch said that the reception of the movie has been amazingly warm. The movie crew met with  Sundance creator Robert Redford , who reminisced about Poland in the 1980s. “People recognize Ola (Olga Frycz) and Mateusz ( two leading actors) on the street,” said Borcuch. All That I Love's creative team is sun dancing despite freezing temperatures and wintry aura in Park City, Utah.

The movie  struck the cord  with the audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.  Those who saw it at the Gdynia Festival  in Poland cheered to the extent it earned the picture Golden Clapper Award for the most applauded film.

Though, it didn’t miss to raise some brows, “Who is the movie for?” asked one viewer , “ its spicy love scenes don’t qualify it for the teenage audience.” Jacek Borcuch explains, “ This is not the teenagers' movie. It is a movie about growing up. If the teenagers want to see it, that is super, but they were not the audience I had in mind for this movie."  Much discussed, " sex scene wasn’t  a part of the screenplay. It was added per actors’ request, “  said Borcuch. ”  I told my actors, you are young, I don’t want to push you too far, but if you want to do it I am not interested in anything short of genuine, and they went for it.”

The trailer, snippets and interviews are energizing and refreshing.  Like in the much telling scene of a platoon of soldiers marching and the band, Janek with his  electric guitar across his back, passing them,  going the opposite direction.

  Well, All That I Love  brings back nostalgia for the time gone, however challenging and convoluted that time was. I have my personal reasons to root for the movie. Much like Janek and Basia I was also 18 in Poland of 1980 when Solidarity became a driving force for hope, and the martial law of December 13, 1981 put the harness on that dream . But most importantly, much like them I was young and hopeful and very much in love, and that’s what the movie is about.  And so I am  cheering for “All That I Love”  tonight.