The Line

The Line is an intense drama that greatly captures the spirit of the location and its social culture (Slovakia is basically the “northern Balkans”), especially thanks to the wonderful camerawork and music. The development of the characters lags a bit behind the flawless technical aspect of the film, as some conflicts and contexts should’ve examined in greater detail, but it is enough to render an intense, rather dark experience. [Karlovy Vary IFF] (03/07/2017)

In 2017 the Slovaks truly surpassed us in the quality of filmography. The Line is quite rough, cynical, uncompromising and emotionless, but it has an interesting premise and a great, gloomy thriller-like interpretation that we in Czechia are incapable of filming. Hats off, Slovaks. With this film you truly showed what is in you. Peter Bebjak and Tomáš Maštalír are the best your country has to offer! (11/02/2018)

An interesting film from the border region. There is something appealing about the idea that the whole region is controlled by a family led by Milka Vášáryová, but the believability of course falls very short. And so The Line remains just an interesting excursion into the nearest Eastern cinema. (28/04/2018)

I was only half satisfied. The film’s biggest problem was that all the characters were so negative that I didn’t care what would happen to them. That is, if it was to be something bad. The ending fell totally flat, which is a shame, the premise had a decent potential and deserved a better execution. (25/06/2018)

A Slovak attempt at a mafia film, which worked quite well, but it has to be said that there are elements that bring it down a bit. First of all, it doesn't take itself too seriously at times, which is too bad, because it would have benefited from a much darker concept, and in places I wouldn't have minded if the attempt to approach American mafia films had disappeared. (05/03/2018)