Old-Timers

This year in Czech cinema is subtly interwoven with films about geriatric revenge. After the seasoned Iva Janžurová’s Shotgun Justice comes the Jiří Schmitzer-Ladislav Mrkvička duo, who are even closer to the grave, but still try to give purpose to the last moments of their lives and embark on a vengeful journey to find a half-forgotten injustice from the past. Old-Timers appeal lies mostly on the solid performances performances of the central duo and the believably written story, which offers many humorous moments alongside the dramatic line. (17/12/2019)

The best Czech movie in years. This is an excellent film about revenge, spiced up with the fact that the killers are about eighty years old. Problems with orientation, memory and being wheelchair-bound are just some of the obstacles that these war veterans overcome with their own stubborn persistence. The acting performances are brilliant; you just can’t help rooting for both protagonists. Cynical jokes contrast with all of the horrors of old-age and the journey through the picturesque countryside is topped off with laughter at nothing in the retirement home. What the heck has happened with the world? Hats off to Dušek and Provazník, who didn’t slip into comedy, instead reflecting the gravity of the situation. P.S: Schmitzer is basically like The Punisher in a wheelchair. (26/02/2020)

There you go. A clarified concept, consistently shabby aesthetics, a radically slow pace in the spirit of GerontoSympathy for a very slow Mr. Vengeance, a guarded acting tone, and Schmitzer at the head of everything, who leads his cart with the penetrating power of a tank. Unlike many documentary filmmakers, Dušek builds on the best of his documentary Into the Clouds We Gaze. It started flirting with a feature film, but doesn't flirt on the edge. Thanks to collaboration with Ondřej Provazník, Old-Timers has a cohesive film image, mature filming and a decent focus, which avoids literality, but certainly not vindictiveness. It is a road movie with liver spots and a properly bile image of a society that cycles in past wrongs and the inability to deal with the crimes of the past in any way. Most importantly, it is finally a film that does not have to compete in the "Paralympics", i.e. it’s good for a film from the Czech Republic. It’s simply a good film. That it didn't make it to the main competition in Karlovy Vary is almost a scandal. For example, it’s much better than Omerzu's Winter Flies. (21/11/2019)

I finally saw Old-Timers in the movie theater. It took them almost as long to get there as their determined quest for revenge did. I have to say that I was happy to wait because it was really worth it. Directorially and script-wise, this is a very successful production, thanks in no small part to the interplay between Martin Dušek and Ondřej Provazník. Moreover, the creators had a damn good hand in choosing the main protagonists. Jiří Schmitzer and Ladislav Mrkvička play the central roles in such a way that it literally takes your breath away, and I dare say that both gentlemen give the performances of their lives here. The first one in particular blew me away with his naturalistic expression. The strong theme of coming to terms with the past and the communist strongmen who were not punished deservedly is not entirely unique in Czech cinema, but this film is exceptional in many ways, not least because of its uncompromising ending. (85%) (11/09/2020)

I would very much like to give Old-Timers four stars, if only the script had managed to fill the 90-minute runtime. And that's exactly what the creators failed to do. The theme was excellent, both protagonists were fantastic, the dramatic line worked great for me (Lieutenant Colonel Reiner's doggedness was perfection). I would have been okay with the slow pace, but the plot was missing too often, and I felt like someone was desperately trying to stretch out a seventy-minute script to fit the desired hour and a half. I think it was a shame and it did the film unnecessary harm. (16/05/2020)