Masaryk

Em estrelas tão bom como Anthropoid, mas duma forma diferente. A Prominent Patient não é um filme de ação, não contém nenhuns rapazes bonitos ou tema de amor. É político, contém sexo, drogas, metade da duração num instituto de psiquiatria, e serve a um público que aprecia um toque mais artístico duma forma mais pessoal. Ele não se preocupa com um resumo através duma narrativa emotiva, mas sim em retratar um resumo de acontecimentos historicamente significativos em torno dum único personagem da forma mais digna, formal e de classe mundial possível. Desde o argumento, que liga sensatamente o estudo da personalidade de Masaryk desiludido com exatamente os principais acontecimentos históricos que me interessam, até à descrição sincera da época e da atmosfera sombria de todos os locais (especialmente os interiores dos palácios, os gabinetes de estudo com a sua iluminação reversa são deliciosos), passando (claro) pelos ótimos atores. É uma experiência cinematográfica mais fria, mas vale bem a pena. (17/03/2017)

One thing that Masaryk cannot be denied at first glance is its unmistakable ambition, which is welcome if well used and capitalized on. Fortunately, that is the case this time, resulting in a film that definitely stands out from the average by Czech standards. The twelve Czech Lions are in order, though it's true that I haven't seen all the competing films, but Masaryk has set the bar pretty high anyway. I have no complaints about the cast, everyone played their roles to perfection and I liked the linguistic layering and authenticity. As far as the technical aspect is concerned, this is a solid film, mixing many evocative shots with an unmistakable musical score. A skillfully made and believably acted excursion into a bygone era that wasn't exactly easy or safe. (02/04/2017)

An absolutely world-class movie that will however only be appreciated by a Czechoslovak. As one could expect, it’s full of fundamental dialogues that will best be absorbed by a historian or a Czech with an interest in history. Personally, I found interesting the conversation with Konrad Henlein, which wasn’t really fundamental for the movie, but a person in the know will immediately notice it and they will take in every single word that he exchanges with Jan Masaryk. To this I can add that I read through several opinions of historians regarding this film and I am glad that the authors tried to be as historically accurate as possible. On the other hand, I’m a bit sad that the beautiful cinematography, which in my opinion is of world-class quality, that takes the viewer to the USA, England but also to Nazi-occupied Prague, wasn’t a bit more dynamic. But everything was made up for by the acting performances: Karel Roden was absolutely excellent, but Oldřich Kaiser as Edvard Beneš was even better. All in all, I have to say that the last time I saw such a good and stylish movie in the Czech Republic was when In the Shadow came out. At the same time, I am glad the authors clarified several historical situations and I would like to thank them for making it possible for a movie like this to be made. (15/03/2017)

If you want to get your feet in it, it requires more than general knowledge in pre-Munich political plots. In other words, it´s more for knowledgeable viewers. But at the same time, it's not even for those who has a basic idea about the topic, because it doesn't offer them anything they wouldn't already know. It does not go into too much details in this regard. The same can be said about the plot frame that is done through the mentally broken Masaryk as a person who feels betrayed and at the same time he feels that he has betrayed as well. It is not that this mode is not interesting, but it does not get under your skin so simply put, it does not do the job. And then all the art-like shots of shattering waves, etc. In any case, as a feature film version of the Czech Century TV series, it's not really bad at all. (18/03/2017)

It is a pleasure to see Julius Ševčík's journey through Czech cinema, and yet it is also worth asking whether three films in the space of a decade are really enough to prove his talent. Very briefly: Masaryk is a necessary film, whether for its genre or the choice of the person it follows. It is skillfully shot, interesting, fits into the color of the Munich stigma, and offers up another shard. Those less familiar with the subject will at least be introduced to the nature of Jan Masaryk's foreign travels and hear Roden speak in foreign languages. For me, it’s a yes. (15/07/2017)