Nowhere in Moravia

The absence of a coherent story, the slow pace and mostly a completely static camera underline the minimalism and banality of the Moravian village and reflect the peace and sluggish lifestyle of its inhabitants. Miroslav Krobot managed to fully realize his clear vision, which proves his creative and directing skills. However, this vision is not all that amusing, as the successful capturing of the atmosphere of the remote corners of Jesenice through several fragments from the fate of quirky villagers is not enough for a feature film. Don't expect much comedy from it. It is a realistic view of the microworld of a village and at the same time an author's statement by Miroslav Krobot, who certainly did not embarrass himself with his first film. However, a degree of disappointment cannot be covered up. (08/07/2014)

Czech intellectuals who concentrate in cities usually go through two phases in relation to the countryside. The first represents idealization. They associate the intimately familiar urban environment with all imaginable flaws of modern civilization - consumerism, egoism, self-centeredness, promiscuity, and overall moral degradation. The countryside is supposed to be a place where the communal way of existence still functions, where people live modestly and in a harmonious relationship with nature, engage in publicly beneficial work, and preserve valuable cultural traditions of past generations. This idealization is even stronger when it can be supported by filtered childhood memories when they experienced wonderful adventures with relatives. Let's clarify what the countryside is not: satellite towns in the area around big cities with good transportation services, where those who cannot afford expensive urban housing move to. When intellectuals become acquainted with the reality of the countryside, the second phase sets in: profound disappointment. The intellectual is taken aback by the poverty of spirit (those who want something from life head elsewhere for education), the absence of the younger generation, the harshly pragmatic and even cynical relationship with nature, encountering envy and the desire for inaccessible consumption, which often takes on a sadly grotesque form. Cultural stimuli are missing, and instead of warm camaraderie, there prevails isolation and mistrust. Miroslav Krobot clearly went through the second phase during the filming, and the result reflects that. As a comedy, the film works if you are willing to reduce the comedic aspect to caricatures of rural boors. However, it does not work in terms of its dramaturgy, and Krobot did not showcase himself as a director with this film. The only strong aspect is the cast, which utilizes the strong lineup of the Dejvice Theater. I don't really understand the awards it received because it is a film that should not be included in the nomination at all, let alone reap its rewards. As a portrayal of life in a village, it is forced and exaggerated, and one is rather inclined to contemplate how the local economy and society function. Does a pub survive in a settlement with only a few dozen inhabitants? Overall impression: 40%. (11/12/2020)

An admirable performance in the discipline of "depicting a village stereotype," which simply cannot be titled anything other than another stereotype: "It’s good for Prague people," which is all the more disappointing because Krobot is a native of the region and in fact denies in such a fundamental way what he should understand best. The Prague actors spout dialect and vulgarisms through their teeth in a dysfunctional way and function only as wearers of great costumes. Yet it's an indescribably sad story, where the writer and producers seem to have realized at the last minute that the film would sell better as a redneck comedy. Fail. (17/08/2014)

A lot of people probably overlooked that the film is not called Vikantice u Hanušovic and that it is not a documentary about a village, but a film about people, or rather about human nature, about the faltering human destiny, about the effort to get from somewhere to somewhere, or from nowhere to nowhere. I believe this is one of the best Czech films in recent years. I can feel something of the Czechoslovak New Wave of the 1960s in it, it also takes place in a kind of non-specific timelessness, and it's a bit theatrical. It's more of an absurd metaphor than a normal story, which makes it more impressive. I thoroughly enjoyed not only the weird mood, but especially the top-notch performances by everyone, and I do mean everyone. I didn't expect the ratings to be so low and me to go so much against the tide. (30/01/2022)

A few interesting scenes and forcing yourself into deadpan poetics are not enough when the film relies on the classic pillars of Czech comedy: rednecks, pussies, vulgarisms, sweaty sex, and stars playing in "comic disguises". Add to that stupid stereotypes and the invention of a new form of dialect, which is the only thing that Krobot excels at. Nowhere in Moravia offers the misery of Czech cinema in full, but in a slightly more acceptable packaging. (09/07/2014)