Comment noyer le Docteur Mracek ou la fin des ondins en Bohême

I can’t stop marvelling at the imaginative work of Vorlíček. In the 1970s, our comedies reached an absolute peak that can never be repeated. And the actors; there’s no point talking about them... It's just one Oscar after another... (19/07/2012)

"Scrr... scrr... screeeech!" If they'd worked more with the inner universe of mythical creatures against a background of contemporary sets in the style of Hastrmann: The Masquerade, it could have been groundbreaking at the time in the context of all subsequent Blades and Underworlds. Sadly, all that came out of it was a rather tired tendentious merry-go-round that takes from the normal world only the worst parts. In other words, socialism without inclusivity, where any deviation from "the norm" is considered a bourgeois remnant requiring reindoctrination, which here can be provided by, among other things, a bite of the proletarian apple of knowledge – a parchment. In a world whose only sanctioned way out is to work and reproduce to the rhythm of Vondráčková and Neckář, it is logical that the object of the protagonist's love interest has two character roles – "My little carp". and "Look, if you're still mad about yesterday, then calm down". And the film doesn't shake its fist at him for either of them. (08/07/2022)

After a long time, I decided to rewatch this film about water spirits fighting for their right to live in a house with a very damp cellar. It wasn’t until today that I realized it was, in fact, about a resistance group run by the imperialist West that didn't hesitate to take the life of many a comrade. The creators cunningly disguised it using conscious ideological references, but I have finally called their bluff today. But seriously - it wasn’t the funniest of Czechoslovak comedies, but I still enjoy it and it definitely wasn’t boring. (25/12/2019)

I absolutely adore this movie. It is beautifully playful and crazy, yet it has a well-crafted story with lots of gags, whether related to the dog or the water sprite element, which serve as excellent spice for the film. And all of it is brilliantly performed by Czech actors. I loved this movie as a child, and nothing has changed after all these years. (07/11/2014)

How to turn fairy tale creatures into cult figures in comedy or the screenplay storm of ideas. (03/07/2005)