angel74

When I watched this film, I had no idea that László Nemes had directed the award-winning Son of Saul. After a few minutes, however, I began to suspect some connections... I have to admit that if the story is interesting enough, then the cinematography really isn't bad. Visually, it is a very evocative and immersive experience. I just secretly hoped for a more concrete explanation of the family's mysterious past, but even so, I'm probably one of the few who liked Sunset more than Son of Saul. I must also mention that Julie Jakab was incredibly good as the main character. (80%)

It's not a bad film, but it certainly doesn't deserve the adulation of a five-star cannonade. When three hours are spent philosophizing, I don't think anyone would manage to attentively follow the lofty thoughts presented throughout the entire time. The plot is interesting, the relationships between the characters are interesting, and the directorial work is of a high standard, but I have the insistent feeling that the film would have benefited from a shorter runtime of at least an hour. Then I'd probably raise my rating too.

I was expecting it to be worse, if only because of the director's unflattering filmography. This bitter tragicomedy about a life loser actually has a pretty good premise and aptly captures the reality of everyday life along with the natures of the individual characters. In addition, the couple of Michal Suchánek and Petra Špalková is really good.

A touching story about two friendly families living in Gothenburg, Sweden, whose fate is significantly affected by the Second World War. It is quite an interesting relationship entanglement, revolving more or less around Simon, who learns a secret about his origins on the threshold of adulthood. Bill Skarsgård plays an emotionally troubled teenage boy, or rather a brat, really well. He's also the right type for the role. The beautiful natural scenery and sophisticated music add a poetic touch and wonderfully complete the atmosphere.

Radek Bajgar can skate incredibly well on thin ice. In Theory of Tiger, he brought it to near perfection, and Shotgun Justice isn't far behind. I stare in disbelief at the low ratings here. In my opinion, this black exaggeration, imbued with irony, hit the nail on the head and that is not usual in the Czech Republic. It has its flaws, but what dramedy doesn't? The somewhat lengthy start is richly compensated by the escalating second half of the film, supported by a fitting musical score. Iva Janžurová is absolutely outstanding in the lead role and the other actors second her wonderfully. A pretty decent achievement by Czech standards. (70%)

Even when this comedy was in the movie theaters, I found it very embarrassing. There’s almost no humor and I laughed maybe three times. I don’t dare to watch it again today because, depending on the evolution of my tastes, the two stars I gave it would probably disappear.

A great ride with the absolutely amazing Kevin Spacey that is simply unforgettable! I continually re-watch the film. How many films can I say that about? There aren’t many...

I consider the bleak existential drama The Naked Night to be one of Bergman's weaker works, but that doesn't mean it's a bad film. It just didn't quite work for me. The silhouettes of the circus wagons looming on the horizon probably caught my attention the most, if I leave aside the plot. They seemed to foreshadow Bergman's masterpiece The Seventh Seal. Compared to that cinematic gem, however, I have to go lower with my rating.

The social drama Western is indeed aptly titled. The state of unsettling tension between a group of German workers working somewhere in a remote part of Bulgaria and the local villagers has the poetry of Western films. Especially when horses are quite often present in the shots and in the plot itself. Meinhard Neumann gives the impression that he was born for the title role. His charisma combined with his civilian acting gives the character the necessary depth and a certain amount of mystery. This film is certainly not just a mindless spectacle, but it highlights the serious problems that can arise when two different cultures clash. Here it is conceived from a purely European point of view as a conflict between the Eastern mentality and the Western material way of life. The main character gets caught up in the midst of both worlds, brilliantly demonstrating the desire to belong somewhere while simultaneously struggling to fit in. My only reservation would be the occasional dead spots in the story. (70%)

After Unknown Soldier, Tears of April is the second film I've seen by Aku Louhimies and I have to admit that I'm starting to get a taste for it. His directorial style is clearly recognizable. While Unknown Soldier bored me with its long-windedness and lack of emotion, Tears of April didn't give me a moment's respite. The harsh scenes from the Finnish Civil War were very realistic. Right from the start, I formed a bond with both the captive and the soldier standing on the side of justice. Strangely enough, I was not indifferent to the mentally disturbed judge afterward. I would say his recitation of Goethe was one of the film's strongest moments. The psychology of the characters and their relationships with each other was also captured well. In sum, Tears of April is a raw war drama, charged with a captivating atmosphere that can strike an emotional chord in all of us. At least it really worked for me.