Look, Ida is objectively a masterpiece. The critics are right—it's beautiful, profound, and important. But let's not pretend: this is an extremely slow, black-and-white, subtitled Polish art film about Holocaust trauma and religious doubt. The pacing is glacial. The dialogue is sparse. Most modern teens—even mature, thoughtful ones—will struggle to engage.

If you have a 16-year-old who's genuinely into film as art, who watches foreign cinema voluntarily, who appreciates slow burns and visual storytelling, then yes, this could be a profound experience. The themes are genuinely enriching and the historical perspective is valuable.

But for the average teen? They'll check their phone within 10 minutes. The 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes tells you something—even adults who seek this out find it challenging. This isn't a knock on the film; it's just reality. Save this for the right kid at the right moment, probably as part of a film studies context or when they're actively exploring serious cinema. Otherwise, you're setting everyone up for frustration.