Dogged by Laughter

A beautifully poignant film in which I enjoyed everything, but most of all the genuine friendship between Vlastimil Brodský, Josef Kemr and Petr Čepek. I also liked the performances by Karel Heřmánek and Jiřina Bohdalová, but Jan Kraus's superb performance will stick in my mind. This is a brilliantly written, acted and directed film. What more could you ask for? (17/10/2013)

More bad luck than laughter. Fortunately for the gullible, not everything has to end badly when you have a few friends around you whom you can trust. Hynek Bočan effortlessly, humorously, and humanely reflects on the autumn of existence, with all that loneliness, disinterest, and exploitation that must not outweigh the aspects that stimulate the will to move forward in life. A solo for Vlastimil Brodský, who chillingly predicts his own December and his two lords, Josef Kemr and Petr Čepek (when the latter is lowered from the house entirely in black in a scoop of a digger, he looks like Magneto). Given the frequency of Josek's MFKDH (Mobile Forest Kitchen and Dining Hall) production and other treats lying on the tables, it's recommended to watch after a hearty dinner and with the fridge wrapped in a chain. (02/05/2022)

I discovered this unassuming and pleasant movie on TV Voyo, a bitter comedy with the excellent Vlastimil Brodský in the starring role. The character of Joska vaguely reminded me of Indian Summer, mostly by how he dominates the whole film. The beautiful scenery of the Great Mountains, the excellent dishes that Joska prepares for the loggers, and the humor alternating with sadness and melancholy create a compact whole. Hynek Bočan was on the right wave after the fairytale Give the Devil His Due and added this modern drama to the index of Czech cinematography. The funniest scene – Joska with a cigar in the bathtub with his son. (09/11/2023)

Melancholic sadness, accompanied by the awful screeching of eighties synth “music". It must’ve taken years to compose it just right for it not to be appropriate for even one darn scene. Too bad about the poor actors who try their best and the only thing the viewer gets are earsplitting screeches. Other than that, no complaints at all. (24/01/2009)

Barbora Hlavsová in the 1980s and of course a prelude to the film Autumn Spring. I'm willing to add one * for the fact that Bohdalová didn't have a better role in FSB projects during normalization. So let's be glad for at least this prelude to the series Přítelkyně z domu smutku. (13/04/2011)