Sadness of Mrs. Snajdrova, The

A Czech, a Slovak, an Albanian + Aňa, Bára and FAMU = ? This is another missed opportunity, or the story of a co-production film that never became widely known. However, watching the behind-the-scenes of the making of the student film Eso (1961) is attractive in and of itself, and all the more so because it is told in retrospect by the film's cinematographer at the time. However, it lacks a more expressive cast, in small roles we have only Štěpánová and Töpfer, and in the lead role, Geislerová has a very difficult time with amateurs. At first, I wasn't enthusiastic about another story from the golden sixties, but now I appreciate the subject matter, which unfortunately was not made in a way that would allow the film to break out of the grey of nostalgic reminiscing, of which Czechs make dozens a year. One unfortunate thing is the vain expectation that together with The Sadness of Mrs. Snajdrovawe will also have to watch that student film... :( (12/22/2009)