Ženské oddelenie

If there's one thing I truly miss after the dissolution of the federation, it's Slovak TV on Czech television. The Slovaks provided a constant connection to a slightly different culture and significantly expanded the pool of actors, directors, and overall talent. Moreover, they allowed Slovak creators to escape the confines of the small Slovak pond. I had the chance, after years, to again see this intriguing TV film that I had almost forgotten. It's not an exceptional production; the dialogues sometimes rustle like paper, and the characters are somewhere between stereotypical figures and fully fleshed-out personalities. Nevertheless, in many places, it sparkles with witty remarks, and some passages, like the scene where the taxi driver Irena is wooed by the somewhat gruff son of an elderly patient, are magical. Furthermore, the familiar setting of the hospital as a place where life and death decisions are made also plays its part. Overall impression: 60%. (01/11/2010)