Domina

Les frères Dlouhý conviennent parfaitement à Domina et je dois dire que ce film m’a énormément plu, avant tout grâce à son enquête pleine de suspense, à son meurtre enchevêtré et à ses multiples suspects. Je ne suis pas friand de fins ouvertes, mais dans ce cas-ci, ça ne m’a pas dérangé. (28/07/2016)

Typical Svoboda, whose prickle for a spineless rotten time, where crime grows into politics and the world is teeming with deviants and crooks, can be felt. Just like the attempt to film it in a modern way, according to the notes of a contemporary American detective story. But even if the shot "squares", it actually has zero benefit for the narrative - usually it's not very understandable why we have to watch the shot from two / three perspectives, when the view is not used in any way (except for the scene of revealing the driver's identity and quite elegant “placing" of information at police meetings. The script is very weak, the attempt for an open end with a bitter undertone completely fades out. The actors alternate decent moments with incomprehensible wooden declamation, which is dominated by Kňažko's theatrical performance. Although Domina tries to look realistic and harsh, the film certainly can't be watched in any way other than as an awkward conglomeration of motifs and tones. It's shot better than usual for a Czech TV thriller, but paradoxically it feels all the more helpless. (03/02/2013)

The remarkable confrontation between absolute five-star ratings and categorical dismissals occurred long before television production even ended. The truth probably lies somewhere in between, and at least these extremes balanced each other out. Compared to contemporary Czech television detective series, it's passable, especially in terms of the performances of the main characters and the direction, but as usual, I have issues with the script. There are too many coincidences in the web of relationships (especially the car accident with the detective's mother as the victim felt forced), exaggeration in the behavior of the police officers, culminating in the repeated assault of the suspect. And again, those coincidences where the TV camera conveniently captures the detective's fist blows. Despite these criticisms, it serves as a dignified farewell for Vladimír Dlouhý from the television screen. Overall impression: 50%. (27/06/2010)