I bumped into this movie on one of our cable programs, I started watching cause I lived in Prague for a year and started learning the language there. But the movie proved to be universally good, regardless of the place and language.
In short, it is a story about getting old, about friendship, and about passion. You know, the things pertaining to any of us.
Actors are brilliant (I somewhat disliked the dubbing stuff with the French (?) actors), although I knew none of them before. Photography is on par with any Hollywood big-production material, and direction is pretty good. The script is convincing. The only complaint I have is that at moments I felt the story dragging along and meandering too much, dedicating much time to peripheral characters (Oskar's daughter singing etc). The movie could have been a bit shorter, in that matter.
However, the movie fulfills, the ending is satisfying and emotional. I'm glad Czech still makes great movies, it's a pity that they are rarely aired, compared to the usual Hollywood crap.
In short, it is a story about getting old, about friendship, and about passion. You know, the things pertaining to any of us.
Actors are brilliant (I somewhat disliked the dubbing stuff with the French (?) actors), although I knew none of them before. Photography is on par with any Hollywood big-production material, and direction is pretty good. The script is convincing. The only complaint I have is that at moments I felt the story dragging along and meandering too much, dedicating much time to peripheral characters (Oskar's daughter singing etc). The movie could have been a bit shorter, in that matter.
However, the movie fulfills, the ending is satisfying and emotional. I'm glad Czech still makes great movies, it's a pity that they are rarely aired, compared to the usual Hollywood crap.
