Stínohra

Shadowplay lured me to the cinema mainly thanks to a good trailer, a decent cast and a genre that, according to the previews, smacked of a dense crime-thriller. After watching it, I have to say that they did not make full use of the potential that lay dormant in the premise. If it had ridden a similar wave as the opening sequence, Shadowplay would have been a solid representative of its genre, but I had the feeling that the stiffing prologue was followed by scenes that skimmed the surface instead fo really digging into the core, which wasn't helped by the grimly stylized visuals. Of the actors, I was most impressed by Hynek Čermák and Vladimír Javorský, I had rather mixed feelings about Milan Ondřík, and Leona seemed a bit out of place. Weaker three stars! (2022.04.07)

Who would've thought? Pustina felt like a tweaked version of Forbrydelsen, showing what Czech moviemakers can pull off when they get the opportunity. Now, Stínohra is on the same vibe (not claiming to be on the same level, though), just in film format. I was sceptical at first but the end result blew away even my wildest expectations. Got treated to a legit thriller with an excellently-crafted grim atmosphere and some solid acting. Director Peter Bebjak seems dead-set on changing my view of Czech film, especially after all those cookie-cutter romantic "comedies" with the same old faces like Hřebíčková, Langmajer, and Dyková. This fresh take, giving off those Nordic crime story vibes, really hit the spot for me. Fingers crossed Bebjak keeps this streak going because I'm all for more of these. Yeah, there are some flaws, sure, but the fact is, this film can stand tall in the global arena. Compare it to the latest celebration of a jerk, and it's a clear winner by a long shot. In my book, the victims matter more than the murderers. / Lesson learned: Self-sacrifice doesn't always have to be led by fanaticism. Banzai! (2022.10.04)