Caesar Must Die

Yes, it was imaginative and yes, the actors and non-actors definitely deserve a lot of respect for what they accomplished here. But I found it soooooo boring. Thank God it’s this short. So, I could handle it somehow. Nevertheless, I believe that a fan of Shakespeare’s plays will find some parallels here. I didn’t want to think, I wanted to unwind and this definitely didn’t work out. (27/08/2015)

When watching this film, I couldn't help but think of Zelenka's The Karamazov Brothers, which is quite similar. Staging a classic theater play in a specific environment and under special conditions naturally has a different impact on the viewer and is characterized by a completely different atmosphere than on a traditional stage. However, there are two fundamental differences here: Petr Zelenka can rely on some of the best actors of his generation, additionally perfectly experienced from theater engagements. His film is much closer to the classic conception of a live-action film. On the other hand, the Taviani brothers filmed a peculiar documentary where you don't know where the boundaries of human pose, pretense, and exhibition in front of the camera begin and end. Their "heroes" are real criminals, murderers, mafia members, and drug dealers sentenced to long-term imprisonment. The Taviani brothers are minimalist, you learn very little about their "actors," and their true thinking is hidden behind a mask. Only a few scenes demonstrate the internal tension and the environment of the prison with special security measures. Caesar Must Die is a typical festival film, definitely not one intended for the average viewer who sits down in front of the screen to relax. Those who can appreciate the unspoken, who can appreciate the absurdity of scenes where mafia killers act out a story about a murderous conspiracy to remove Caesar - the godfather, will be more than satisfied. Since I gave The Karamazov Brothers 5 stars, I ultimately lean towards the same rating here. The story of the fate of Salvatore Striano, who started acting after being granted clemency from his prison cell, is one of those you think can only happen in the film world. Overall impression: 90%. (10/09/2014)

An interesting film made by Italian matadors, the Taviani brothers, who were both in their eighties at the time of filming. That in itself is incredible, but they still have stories to tell, which makes it all the more important. The setting of Shakespeare in an interesting environment is intriguing, but I must say the film didn't give me that much. (16/10/2016)