Grapes

Un spot publicitaire complet sur Mikulov et les vignobles moraves agrémenté de scènes maladroites et de répliques isolées. Rien de charmant avec des personnages principaux antipathiques, offrant seulement une tonne de pseudo-philosophie sur le vin et une poignée de clichés stéréotypés sur l'utopie ensoleillée de la Moravie en tant que terre de repos, de femmes dociles et d'oncles joyeux. (01/03/2020)

Après une longue période d’attente, enfin une comédie tchèque marrante et de qualité, qui s’en prend aux Moraves, aux Praguois et, surtout, aux flics. Kryštof Hádek confirme à nouveau son grand talent de comédien, par contre, je trouve que le réalisateur Tomáš Bařina aurait dû lui choisir quelqu’un d'autre comme acolyte, parce que Lukáš Langmajer est le maillon faible de tout le film. Heureusement, les autres acteurs conviennent parfaitement à l’intrigue – la ravissante Voříšková, le rustre Postránecký et l’adorable Lipský. Qui, après avoir vu ce film, n’aurait pas envie d’un petit verre de vin ou de vin bourru ? (21/09/2008)

About wine and nothing. You can’t deny the relaxed atmosphere. “It’s got it" but only in the last half hour. About from the time when Lukáš Langmajer moves out of the story. Up until then it’s a rushed pastiche that doesn’t know where it’s heading or even how to get there. At least this goes on quite pleasantly. The cast is pleasantly little known, the music great (most of the best moments are connected with atmospheric parts resting only on the music), but the camerawork throws it all in the cesspool. Then it isn’t even kitschy-nice; it is the pure essence of the highest caliber of blatant kitsch. And with no technical support and everything filmed from the same bathwater. Over-the-top paint book image of a “clean" Moravia versus the gray tones of rotten Prague. Wow, how much time did it take the creators to think up such an incredibly innovative concept? But why get mad about it. It’s enough to say that the camerawork almost manages to kill the visual qualities of Terezka Voříšková. Which you might have thought is impossible. Despite everything, Grapes is a good movie. And mainly due to Vořísková, the red duck and Hádek. Bařina isn’t very active, but I wouldn’t refuse on principle to watch another movie by him. If he gets a different cameraman. But the movie makes you feel like a glass or two of wine afterward, so pass the red. Hey, where are you all? I want wine, but all I’ve got is Pilsen! (18/04/2008)

An unexpected trip to a place where I felt so good as a viewer. Bařina sent me so much optimism that I drew from it for several weeks. I enjoyed myself, admired, dreamed, and maybe three times I was so absorbed that I didn't believe my own senses. I don't need wine for a lifetime, but here I maybe felt like opening it for the first time. At one time, a promise of hope not only for the summer but also for Czech comedy. It is such a pity that we see so little of this accurate judgment. (02/04/2008)

I wouldn't mind at all if this had been a milestone between what Czech film has been and will be. I'm just tired of watching those bitter comedies, I don't want to watch the plight of ordinary people when it's handled the same way over and over again. Fine, this is not a work of art; but it's not a typical American comedy, either. It's an interesting film. It's a movie where everyone’s always drinking. It's a movie with lots of shots of Moravia. I didn't even know there was anything that nice in our country. So I guess I'm grateful for that. It's not a movie I'll remember days later. On the contrary, after a couple of hours I've forgotten it. Still, I think it's a stepping stone. Nothing that was, nothing that will be. Maybe it’s the sign of a change. Or maybe not; I'm clapping my liver. Without wine. (04/03/2009)