Talking to a DVD seller (who is also a fan of Czech cinema) I found out that UK DVD company Second Run had put out a Czech title set during the German occupation of the country. Gathering up Czech movies to view,I decided that it was time to take a glimpse at a Czech take on Romeo and Juliet.
The plot-
WWII:
Just before the family are taken to a death camp by the occupying Nazis,Hanka escapes from the transportation and goes to hide in an empty attic inside an apartment block.Finding Hanka in the attic, Pavel decides to do everything he can to keep Hanka safe.As Hanka and Pavel start to have feelings for each other,Pavel's family begin to fear about what will happen if they are caught with Hanka,as Nazi death squads start going round killing "betrayers" who have been secretly housing Jewish citizens.
View on the film:
Whilst there are some large spots of dirt,Second Run still deliver a good transfer,with the whispered dialogue being crisp and the look of fear on Pavel & Hanka's faces being clear to see.
Taking all of the life out of the country,co-writer/(along with Jan Otcenásek) director Jirí Weiss & cinematographer Václav Hanus show the war-torn streets of Prague in their starkest form,as lone footsteps walk down the eerily empty streets,whose silence is broken from the gunfire of Nazi death squads.Hiding in the attic,Wesiss strikes a superb contrast between night and day,with the attic being filled with shadows which allow the romance to grow in the darkness.Keeping a close watch every time he steps out of the attic,Weiss and Hanus give Pavel's daylight scenes a brittle quality which is lit up by an atmosphere bubbling with dread over fears of Hanka being discovered.
Leaving the country himself as a Jewish refugee for the US during WWII,Weiss and co-writer Jan Otcenásek open the Occupied Czech of Otcenásek's novel in a strikingly fearful manner,by making anyone who Pavel can put his trust in be willing to become an informant or turn complacent on the horrors destroying the country. Taking loose inspiration from Shakespeare,the writers avoid teen hormones for something more touchingly poetic,that allows for the excellent dialogue to build a psychological depth to the love that Pavel and Hanka have for each other,and the sounds of war surrounding their attic.
Appearing in the first of just 7 films,the alluring Daniela Smutná gives an incredible performance as Hanka,thanks to Smutná opening Hanka's feelings in an extremely expressive manner which perfectly capturing the lowing of Hanka's guard,as she starts to fall for Pavel.Joined by a wonderfully brisk Jirina Sejbalová as his mum, Ivan Mistrík gives a fantastic performance as Pavel.Hitting every note of sincerity with an expert eye, Mistrík gives Pavel a hard edge of determination in keeping Hanka alive,as Romeo and Juliet go into darkness.
The plot-
WWII:
Just before the family are taken to a death camp by the occupying Nazis,Hanka escapes from the transportation and goes to hide in an empty attic inside an apartment block.Finding Hanka in the attic, Pavel decides to do everything he can to keep Hanka safe.As Hanka and Pavel start to have feelings for each other,Pavel's family begin to fear about what will happen if they are caught with Hanka,as Nazi death squads start going round killing "betrayers" who have been secretly housing Jewish citizens.
View on the film:
Whilst there are some large spots of dirt,Second Run still deliver a good transfer,with the whispered dialogue being crisp and the look of fear on Pavel & Hanka's faces being clear to see.
Taking all of the life out of the country,co-writer/(along with Jan Otcenásek) director Jirí Weiss & cinematographer Václav Hanus show the war-torn streets of Prague in their starkest form,as lone footsteps walk down the eerily empty streets,whose silence is broken from the gunfire of Nazi death squads.Hiding in the attic,Wesiss strikes a superb contrast between night and day,with the attic being filled with shadows which allow the romance to grow in the darkness.Keeping a close watch every time he steps out of the attic,Weiss and Hanus give Pavel's daylight scenes a brittle quality which is lit up by an atmosphere bubbling with dread over fears of Hanka being discovered.
Leaving the country himself as a Jewish refugee for the US during WWII,Weiss and co-writer Jan Otcenásek open the Occupied Czech of Otcenásek's novel in a strikingly fearful manner,by making anyone who Pavel can put his trust in be willing to become an informant or turn complacent on the horrors destroying the country. Taking loose inspiration from Shakespeare,the writers avoid teen hormones for something more touchingly poetic,that allows for the excellent dialogue to build a psychological depth to the love that Pavel and Hanka have for each other,and the sounds of war surrounding their attic.
Appearing in the first of just 7 films,the alluring Daniela Smutná gives an incredible performance as Hanka,thanks to Smutná opening Hanka's feelings in an extremely expressive manner which perfectly capturing the lowing of Hanka's guard,as she starts to fall for Pavel.Joined by a wonderfully brisk Jirina Sejbalová as his mum, Ivan Mistrík gives a fantastic performance as Pavel.Hitting every note of sincerity with an expert eye, Mistrík gives Pavel a hard edge of determination in keeping Hanka alive,as Romeo and Juliet go into darkness.