Exhale

Tomáš Mašín's film combines a romantic and psychological crime drama in an appealing way, and thanks to the well-written and believably acted characters, Exhale leaves a strong impression on the viewer and makes them think about the story it depicts. None of the four 'main' characters - Erika, Martin, Jana and Dana - come across as black and white and the makers manage to create a believable mini-story around each of them, justifying and slowly revealing their motives. The two plot twists in the storyline don't come as any surprise, as the viewer has suspected them for some time before their reveal, but I don't see this as a flaw. In fact, Mašín and Alice Nellis served me a well-written film, which, thanks to the story (I praise the problematization of the not-so-common theme of aphasia), the non-linear narrative and the crime plot, managed to keep me engrossed throughout the entire running time - and that counts. Last but not least, I praise the above-average music for Czech standards. (08/09/2023)

For me, this is the best Czech film of 2023. This unassuming relationship drama with a crime plot is a true uplift for Czech cinema. An absolutely brilliant film in every aspect. The performances of the main trio, perfect music, camera, and script are without any weak points. Based on the previews, I had certain expectations, but the film completely demolished them and raised them much higher. The resolution of the plot is somewhat predictable from the second half of the film, but it's nothing that would spoil the overall impression for me. This achievement definitely deserves more attention. The concept and plot are original, and it certainly has a chance to captivate a pan-European audience. (29/09/2023)