Prague-based movie reviews, news and other trash
Palm Springs is a colourful and fun take on the time-loop sub-genre; a genre that has been poked and prodded in every which way for decades since Groundhog Day. If you’re looking for a summer flick filled with light laughs, this one is for you. In saying that though, Palm Springs also cynical and bittersweet at times.
Ari Aster’s sophomore is as disturbing as the remarkable Hereditary, but brings a surprising amount of humour to a tale that is otherwise about the torment of grief and our need to adhere to tradition and culture, even if it literally rips us to shreds.
Ari Aster’s much-anticipated Midsommar will come to Czech cinemas early August thanks to Aerofilms.
Three brothers separated at birth are reunited by pure chance – it’s got to be one of the most remarkable stories you’ve ever heard in the media, but what drives documentary Three Identical Strangers is just how mind-boggling and cinematic the backstory is.
I’m well aware that this list is coming a little late, but better late than never. As usual, this one covers my top picks for titles released in the Czech Republic during 2018, which also includes festival screenings and those released on streaming services like Netflix. So unfortunately, The Favourite is not here (it was just released and you should definitely go and see it) and Suspiria is not here either (if it was, then it would probably be close to the top). Nevertheless, there were some impressive films that popped up in our little country last year, and some of them we even saw before the rest of the world.
The stunning new Timothée Chalamet drama Beautiful Boy is coming to Czech cinemas this January and is a heartbreaking portrayal of teenage drug addiction, and a must-see.
The new Lars von Trier film The House That Jack Built is packed to the brim with violence and controversy, as you may have already guessed. The director seems to be making a bold statement about the art world that starts off as intriguing but soon becomes an overexaggerated blunder that services no one but the director himself.
Šimon Šafránek’s new documentary King Skate is a playful and thought-provoking look at Czechoslovak history through the freedom of skateboarding… plus the soundtrack is awesome.
McQueen, the critically acclaimed documentary on the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen hits select Czech cinemas this week.
Climax is one of the most disturbing films I’ve seen in a while. Visually captivating, entertaining, and truly horrific at times.
Movie Barf 