There is nothing more satisfying than watching a film from a master director.

Backing up a second, I’m someone who follows directors the way people follow sports teams or, closer to home, movie stars. When I hear that Aronofsky, McQueen, Iñarritu or countless other working directors have a new movie, I’m immediately sold on seeing it without the need for trailers or marketing. And this list is ever-growing and hardly limited to the juggernaut names.

In the case of Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski, it only took one film, 2014’s Foreign Oscar winner Ida, to add him to my director’s list. Seeing Cold War wasn’t a question of if, but when. So I’ll be upfront in saying that the film lives up to its predecessor and is a brilliant companion to Pawlikowski’s previous film. For those unsold by that alone, let me further make a case for this new entry.

Opposites attract at a Polish music conservatory

Shot in a visually distinct, entirely black and white square ratio, we’re transported to 1949 Poland within seconds. The war in Europe is over, yet no less divided between East and West. Our first protagonist, Wiktor (Tomasz Kot), an accomplished musician and conductor, is part of a program seeking out peasants who can play traditional Polish music to participate in a newly formed musical conservatory. The goal is earnest preservation of national heritage yet as it grows, it faces increased pressure to be nationalistic and favor propaganda over traditional music. This tension resonates with so many countries, including our own, and by tapping into the ultra-specific it successfully creates something universal.

This is only the starting point. The 90-minute runtime is packed tight with narrative beats. The larger journey begins when Wiktor takes a liking to one of the conservatory’s brightest stars, Zula (Joanna Kulig), and despite their different roles in the conservatory, they fall passionately in love. Over the course of a few years, their love story intertwines with the European conflict at hand, and their opposite personalities make for both passion and often conflict.

The cinematography is worth the admission alone

What makes Cold War riveting is not entirely the story at hand, but the film’s delivery of material. Cinematographer Lukasz Zal (who co-shot Ida and was nominated for the cinematography Oscar), gets to use the camera as the ultimate storytelling device. Most films are lucky to have one or two unforgettable shots that get burned into the retinas. Cold War has at least a dozen. Some are like magic tricks in their simplicity or creative reveal of key information. Others are more stunningly beautiful in an Ansel Adams, magnificently black and white styling. None are mundane or incidental. I won’t spoil these wondrous photographic moments, they are worth the admission alone.

The language barrier doesn’t get in the way of the music’s angelic quality

The music is another powerful element that is embedded harmoniously into the story, which is unsurprising given its subjects. Most of the music is in a foreign language, giving it an angelic quality beyond the sound of mortal humankind. Not only is it graceful and pleasing to hear, but like the photography, the film uses it as a narrative device to further the story. Most of this may go over viewers heads because of the language barrier, mine included, and yet you can trust it’s all deliberate because the few songs you do recognize are perfectly implemented.

A winning combination of story, photography, and music

These combined forces of story, photography, and music are what make Cold War a must-see, especially on a big screen. Pawlikowski claims he did not set out to make another film so similar to Ida in aesthetic, and yet the two are as perfect as companion pieces as they come. They entirely stand on their own but are complementary as a pair. Whatever Pawlikowski decides to do next, consider my ticket already bought. In the meantime, I’ll be soaking up the emotional experience of Cold War for many days to come.

‘Cold War’ is rated R for some sexual content, nudity, and language. 88 minutes. Opening this Friday at Laemmle Royal.