Directed by:
Jiří HavelkaCinematography:
Martin ŽiaranCast:
Tereza Ramba, Vojtěch Kotek, Dagmar Havlová, Jiří Lábus, Pavla Tomicová, Ondřej Malý, Andrej Polák, Klára Melíšková, Kryštof Hádek, Stanislav Majer (more)Plots(1)
Already domestically hailed as the year's best film ("a film beyond criticism"), this quintessentially Czech comedy-drama echoes the Czech New Wave as it exposes the foibles of a group of co-op apartment owners gathered for their regular meeting -- if only they can agree on anything at all. Call them the "Twelve Angry Owners,” we all know them: the petty bureaucrat, the gossip, the "I'm being cheated," the too-helpful person suspiciously smiling, the anti-everything guy. It's a nightmare confrontation between intractable egos, hilarious to watch as long as you're not a participant. Redolent with provocative themes even as it leaves us laughing, this wonderful film is sure to be one of the big hits of the festival. Don't miss it. (Cinequest Festival)
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Reviews (8)
I sadly didn't have fun the way I should have (or wanted to). The characters are all overly exaggerated caricatures for my taste, although I can't say that I don't know a representative of each group personally, and all their replicas and dialogue skirmishes mostly only sound like a well- written script, but still lacking something real. The actors, headed by Jiří Lábus and Teresa Ramba, help it as much as they can with their utmost efforts, and the result is not a bad, but rather an awkward bitter comedy that can only dream of being as good as Forman's or Papoušek’s dissections of human nature.
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I’m certainly not fond of Jiří Havelka as an actor, so I was all the more surprised by how I liked him in the role of a screenwriter and director. I had a great time, and I laughed out loud. In a certain respect, it also worked as a horror movie. If I were an owner of a property in a similar situation, I would definitely not watch this film for the sake of my sanity. Originally, I wanted to analyze the most interesting characters, but then I realized it wouldn’t be possible. Each and every one of the characters was interesting. I was just a little sorry that it wasn't possible to keep up the high quality until the very end, but I was very satisfied nevertheless. 5*
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The film’s slogan: "a comedy for those who haven't experienced it. A drama for those who have" quite aptly mirrors the general atmosphere of the film. So many characters, so many different personalities, whose interactions with each other throughout the film, which takes place in one room for much of its running time, elicits both genuine laughter and chills. This tragicomedy builds mainly on a superb cast and a dynamic script that offers a number of exceedingly funny but also sharp sequences. By the end, I may have found it a bit theatrical and over the top, but since this film has its roots in a theatre play, there is little to be surprised about. That said, I still stand by the fact that this is one of best Czech films within its genre in recent years. An incredibly funny yet distressingly authentic excursion into the lives of many of us.
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Brilliantly executed conversational drama with elements of comedy that skillfully encompasses a wide range of diverse characters across "noble" Czech society. Looking at this panorama of human characters, I feel like shouting out that confining it to just the owners of apartments in one building is at least somewhat unambitious. (80%)
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An hour and a half of concentrated depression. I didn’t see the play, but it must have made you think about ending it all after seeing it. The acting’s great, apart from some minor exaggeration and (in my eyes rather forced) attempts at humor, but this is popular with the viewers, so I quite understand. I was surprised how realistic the portrayal of the owners was, and I would have gone for a more vicious ending, causing greater catharsis.
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