Nap a hálóban

A somewhat unjustly forgotten gem nowadays, though not for connoisseurs. A film that inspired an entire generation of filmmakers and started the Czech (Slovak) New Wave. Visually captivating, the camera works magic even when capturing seemingly ordinary panel impressions with a dense forest of TV antennas, and the solar eclipse scene is hauntingly beautiful. And all this is underscored by a slightly industrial soundtrack with discordant elements that is several decades ahead of its time in terms of boldness and sonic timelessness. Zeljenka was, in short, something like the Slovak Zdeněk Liška, albeit several levels less artistically potent. And the two leads, with their endearing slang and natural acting, give this film a sense of desired authenticity. At the Summer Film School a few years ago, on the big screen, it was a real treat. (2015.06.20)

A delicate feast of images that doesn’t need any philosophising character to speak to receptive viewers and communicate its ideas. Hypnotic direction in perfect harmony with the camera, for which there are perhaps not enough words of praise – the work with details and with the mise-en-scène, the intelligent symbolism or experimentation with sharpness and angles, that was a real balm for my cinematic soul. The story is unimportant, which is perhaps a bit of a pity in this case, but the message is nice. If someone like Antonioni or Bergman made an identical film, it would be a prized cinematic masterpiece with at least an Oscar nomination, I bet, given their reputations. 85% (2016.04.28)