A Hoof Here, a Hoof There

The torturous lightness of being a normalization Bohemian. The worst part is that the existential vibration of the film has not lost its urgency at all. An excellent ironic band of emptiness of official culture and non-conformist bathing in the mud of boredom. In addition, Chytilová's central theme of the relationship between men and women is elaborated in a traditionally scathing and bizarrely exposed animal history, which is strongly supported by the farcical and declamatory poetics of the Sklep Theater. The symbolic end of an era. (04/09/2012)

I understand the enthusiasm of those who recall the end of the 80s when the escapades of the trio of Bohemians played by Hanák, Šteindler, and Vávra meant a disruption of the stagnant waters of Czech cinema. Chytilová never lacked courage, so she dared to go a few steps further than others. Where others hinted, she named things by their real name. However, for me, this dadaistic morality confirms the fact that I overlook her artistic vision except for minor exceptions. It seems exhausted, pretentious, and shallow to me. Overall impression: 45%. (03/06/2018)

Je me demande si ça ne nuit pas au film que le spectateur sache à l’avance quel est son message principal. Et même s’il est possible de le regarder d’un autre point de vue que quand on sait que ça parle du SIDA, on peut tout de même se demander quelle est l’origine de l'histoire – en l’occurrence, la vie dévergondée des protagonistes centraux. Cela dit, le traitement général ne m’a pas vraiment plu et, pour moi, la référence en la matière reste Les Témoins. (07/02/2015)