Directed by:
Dan SvátekCinematography:
Jakub ŠimůnekComposer:
Varhan Orchestrovič BauerCast:
Václav Jiráček, Ivan Franěk, Marián Geišberg, Zita Kabátová, Stanislav Zindulka, Jana Krausová, Zuzana Kronerová, Jaroslava Adamová, Stanislav Fišer (more)Plots(1)
Not an entirely fictional story of the man who dubbed the “heparin killer.” What was the reason and what was going on in the mind of the young man who decided to commit and continue to commit the heaviest of crimes, often believing he was doing a good thing? What compels a promising and intelligent medical student to change his ethics and to commit evil? The idea that a man you know well, see on a daily basis and actually like, a man who is helpful, willing and self-sacrificing even at the expense of his own comfort, is actually a murderer is a horrendous thought. We follow a story that may have happened, perhaps did happen and, unfortunately, can happen at any time. And the first thing to come to your mind when you learn that you knew the monster is: How close was someone close to me – or even me – to becoming one of his victims? (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (2)
Another part of the increasingly disgusting "Czech cinematography and important topics" farce. Starring a broad-shouldered, overacting playboy, and a director who balances the elaborate message with a sterile formal exhibition. In the supporting roles: stilted V. O. soundtrack. Bauer, a hospital on the outskirts of the city, a lack of light bulbs and a careless articulation with which many actors would not even pass the entrance exams at the Amateur Theater of District Speech Therapy. A positive aspect of the film is the complete barren environment and the cruelly panoptic image of the Czech healthcare system, which is sometimes so exaggerated that it is entertaining.
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After watching this unusual film, I had mixed feelings. The premise is original, and the upside is that it's inspired by (though I wouldn't exaggerate so much) a true event, which I always enjoy watching. The atmosphere of the hospital is really grim and harrowing, as are some passages of the film. The acting is pretty balanced (with the amateurs matching the pros). The running time is tolerable, but twenty minutes less would have been better. I was initially going to give it 2* (if there was a 1-10 star-range it would have been easier), but since it made me feel uneasy at times (and it probably should have) and there were shots of places I walked on more than once, I'll give it a boost (55% - impure, but still 3*).
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