gudaulin

From today's perspective, it is an average film that, in my opinion, wants to show Canaris in a better light than would correspond to his actual motives and actions. After all, not enough time had passed since the end of the war, and the creators did not maintain the necessary distance. They were also fulfilling a societal task, which was to diminish German responsibility for World War II and to show resistance against Hitler and Nazism. Overall impression: 55%.

The first truly independent film by Břetislav Pojar after he decided to step out of the shadow of his studio boss Jiří Trnka. Although Trnka was the creator, the screenplay and direction were fully in Pojar's competence. For its time, it is innovative and precise, and the film received even greater acclaim abroad than at home. A black slapstick about how alcohol in a driver's blood can cause a lot of problems... The impression of being drunk was created by camera movement and blurring, or by drawing facial expressions on the puppet's head. A laborious and original film that didn't quite appeal to me in terms of style, as I still prefer Pojar's poetic films... Overall impression: 65%.

Kitano made his gangster film with a focus on character psychology and development, although it does not shy away from depicting brutal violence. Genre fans may be disappointed by the slow pace of storytelling and the breaking of genre clichés. The film actually only marginally deals with Japanese organized crime and is rather a film about globalization, the intermingling and clash of cultures within the realm of crime. The film is essentially a fateful drama of a man who was able to renounce his country, language, and culture, but unable to break free from the social class and way of life he came from and had led since childhood. Changing the value hierarchy is impossible for the main character... Overall impression: 75%.

Deep Throat is indeed a famous, albeit semi-amateur, mediocre pornographic film that wouldn't be worth watching for me. However, a very interesting documentary used its title. It combines an attractive theme and professional editing and gives us genuine entertainment alongside educating about a certain subject and period. The film not only tells the history of pornography in the world of cinema but also explores society's perception of sex, its taboo, and the confrontation of sexuality with the Christian religion, specifically its fundamentalist interpretation. It also touches on contemporary politics and portrays the feminist movement in a negative light. It reveals that many renowned filmmakers started as creators of commercial pornographic films and, last but not least, it entertains the audience with a series of scandalous details from the lives of porn actors and directors. Overall impression: 95%.

There are bad movies that everyone knows, and there are excellent movies that escape people's attention. I stumbled upon C.R.A.Z.Y. by chance and didn't expect anything from this Canadian comedy. My surprise was even greater when I realized how pleasant and impressive this film is. There are plenty of stories about difficult adolescence, but this movie manages to be original, mixing humorous elements with tragic moments, and it feels completely realistic in all stages. It is a testimony to a certain time when men still played the role of family providers but gradually lost ground as emancipation took place. The perception of homosexuality was also changing, but the problem of drugs emerged, and all of this is ventilated in C.R.A.Z.Y. It is very well acted, but its biggest advantage is the clever script. A film that pleases and sticks in my memory. Overall impression: 90%.

The Russians can surely scare their children with this film. It is a fairy tale that I wouldn't let my children watch unless wanted to shock them. However, it is more interesting for a more grown-up and mentally resilient cinephile with its atmosphere, typically Eastern Slavic scenery, and direction. Overall impression: 70%. The motif of a well with water of life, where an attempt to obtain it turns into a loss of youth and life, can, however, be a real nightmare for young children...

Considering that it is a critically acclaimed film that received a few Oscar nominations and other festival laurels at its time, Mazurský's film seemed very unremarkable to me. It was both too long and, compared to what I have witnessed in real life, it essentially feels like an idyll. The main protagonist doesn't face any serious social problems, and isn't involved in tumultuous divorce disputes, or arguments over property and childrearing; she keeps her apartment and her husband supports her financially. The only real problem is her sex life, which, as is customary in America, she discusses with her psychologist. But even here, she manages to recover remarkably quickly. It's a typically shallow American treatment of a serious subject, which usually has, in my opinion, a much more arduous course and more serious consequences. Overall impression: 50%.

The film, although not without its flaws, was an extraordinary achievement in its time, as there was no place for this type of social criticism in the contemporary studio system, and light escapist themes clearly prevailed. The book is excellent, and even though the film did not fully utilize its potential, it fairly faithfully follows the literary plot and goes quite far in its social criticism. It is a significantly left-wing film that depicts both the hopeless situation of farmers and day laborers during the economic crisis and the growing solidarity and awareness of social responsibility. This is evident in the scene at a bistro, where everyone, starting with the owner and ending with the last tractor driver and waitress, supports the unemployed in some way. Overall impression: 90%.

The Secret Agent is a purely average affair in terms of direction, but it can offer the viewer a strong story with a thrilling plot, a very decent cast, with some actors being cast in atypical roles (that is especially true for Robin Williams, who played a completely negative serious role compared to his usual characters), and interesting music by the proven Philip Glass. Overall impression: 60%. Despite the directorial shortcomings, the film exudes an atmosphere of a turn of the century full of social tensions and anarchistic outbursts.

Although not exceptional, this horror movie from the 90s is certainly above average and stands out not for its special effects or set design, but for the bleak atmosphere of a neglected urban periphery, unsettling music, and last but not least, the performances, led by Virginia Madsen. There are some weaker moments in the screenplay, but the technical aspects such as editing, cinematography, and sound are on a solid level. Overall impression: 70%.