On the Roof

Deux personnages différents et leur rapprochement amical sont analysés de manière sensible, légèrement humoristique et thématique. Mádl sait raconter des histoires sur des personnes de tous âges comme un cinéaste chevronné. Un Švehlík formidable et une absence réjouissante de placement de produits là où il y aurait pu y en avoir. Ne vous attendez cependant pas à un K.O émotionnel, une conclusion qui a fait de Pojdeme k Mořy ("Allons à la mer", NDT) un film inoubliable. Na Střeše ("Sur le toit", NDT) déconstruit plutôt (intentionnellement et habilement) les attentes du public dans sa seconde moitié. JEREMIE (07/02/2019)

It is very clear that Mádl did not underestimate the situation. He studied the subject and the form, and he chose the most universal story in world cinema for his project On the Roof. A meeting of two generations, a meeting of two nationalities, and a search for the meaning of life in a hopeless situation. Alois Švehlík and Lukáš Duy Anh Tran quite naturally became ideal representatives of two different worlds. There is therefore no need to mourn for Tříska, because with him it would have been quite a different experience. Together with Miss Hanoi, On the Roof is another bright spot in Czech cinema. (04/10/2021)

Après un premier film qui m’avait déjà plu, Jiří Mádl en réalise un deuxième dans la même lignée. Il parvient à nous faire rire et à nous émouvoir, et ce, d'une façon noble et sans recourir à des moyens pathétiques. Notons que la tragédie qui a accompagné le tournage n’a pas eu de répercussions négatives sur le produit final. Alois Švehlík est excellent et, d’après moi, il a ses chances aux Lions tchèques. Son collègue vietnamien s’en tire haut la main également et Mary Bartalos n’est pas déplaisante à voir. Un très beau film. (27/12/2019)

After reading the summary, I expected the film to be nothing special, but I was pleasantly surprised. Alois Švehlík was superb, and Jiří Mádl’s work with this simple theme was very skillful. He both wrote it as well as directed it, and he deserves praise for both. I never liked Jiří Mádl as an actor, but if he keeps on writing and directing so well, I’ll be happy to keep watching his films. I really enjoyed the inconspicuous yet excellent humor, which perfectly offset the dramatic scenes. (22/10/2019)

An incredibly sweet film on the border between drama and comedy with a perfectly balanced humorous and serious component. Alois Švehlík played the main role of the rude professor Rypar with his own grace and it was tailor-made for him, even though it was originally supposed to be played by the tragically deceased Jan Tříska. The ideas to which Alois Švehlík lent words were very purposeful. I can't stop marveling at how the hell Jiří Mádl was able to come up with the whole thing. With the script and direction of this intelligent film, he has easily put most of the current Czech filmmakers to shame. The film also has great music. (85%) (06/05/2020)