Directed by:
Agnieszka HollandScreenplay:
Marek EpsteinCinematography:
Martin ŠtrbaComposer:
Antoni Komasa-LazarkiewiczCast:
Ivan Trojan, Josef Trojan, Juraj Loj, Jaroslava Pokorná, Jiří Černý, Miroslav Hanuš, Ladislav Kolář, Martin Sitta, Jan Vlasák, Barbora Milotová (more)VOD (2)
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Jan Mikolášek is the epitome of aplomb and solidarity. He is talented, sensitive, assertive and enigmatic. In his youth and when he is older, regardless of whether he is in private or public, he is a man of action, reason and intuition. A faith healer. Just one glance at the urine bottle is enough for him to know what ails his patient. With fame comes fortune, and this at a time when Czechoslovakia is a pawn in a game being played by the major power blocs. Protected and used by both the National Socialist and Communist regimes, he steps in wherever the system fails. But during the post-Stalinist years, the political climate becomes unpredictable and his special status is endangered. Along with his assistant František, with whom, as the secret police are well aware, he has much more in common than herbal medicine, the charlatan finds his morals being put to the test. Based on the life of Jan Mikolášek (1889–1973), and with a screenplay by Marek Epstein, Agnieszka Holland once again explores the link between the private and the political, and the relationship between the passage of time and the story of an unconventional individual. (Berlinale)
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Jan Mikolášek was not among those who made great history, so he is not part of the great history either. Besides a handful of old folks and descendants of those he treated, no one knew about him until now. Your acceptance of the film largely depends on the fact that you do not know his true fate, because Marek Epstein adapted his life's periphery in a Hollywood manner, and Mikolášek himself would probably be shocked by what he was able to extract from his biography. Agnieszka Holland is an experienced European-level director, and under her leadership, a film was created that is worth seeing, one that is able to create a dramatic arc, captivate the viewer, and in which there are a number of scenes that will please cinephiles. This is significantly helped by the cast, led by Ivan Trojan, who gives his best performance, and it is quite possible that this is his strongest film role to date. If I have to criticize something, then it would be the screenplay, which does not adhere to logic and historical facts, right, Marek? The deeply religious Mikolášek would certainly not help with an abortion, let alone for such obscure reasons, and the state power would not need a monstrous trial with such a convoluted conspiracy where it could use bureaucratic tools for his elimination. I would encourage people to go see this film in the movie theater, it deserves it. Overall impression: 75%.
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Like Mr. Jones, Agnieszka Holland's previous film, I don't think Charlatan would be a pure five stars... if it weren't for Ivan Trojan. I already know he's a great actor, but he outdoes himself with what he does here, under the baton of a world class director. I searched my memory for the last time I was so impressed by the performance of a Czech actor in a Czech film, and I ended up with Bolek Polívka in Forgotten Light. Ivan Trojan gives an incredible performance of the caliber of Rudolf Hrušínský or Miroslav Macháček, and he is not Trojan, but Mikolášek, whom you alternately admire and hate. But Josef Trojan, whose casting is based on far more than his resemblance to his father, is also very good, and I liked the uncluttered script and the likewise sparse direction. The ending disgusted me and it didn't matter that it was contrived. I understood why what happened happened, and why who did what they did, but it didn't make the heartbreak any easier.
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After a long time I went to the movie theater to see a domestic film and after watching it I know I couldn't have chosen better. It never ceases to amaze me how wonderfully everything fit together - from Mark Epstein's thoughtful screenplay and Agnieszka Holland's uncompromising direction to Martin Štrba's amazingly sensitive lighting and camera work, to the disturbingly dosed music. I must also not forget the great acting performances of all the actors, among whom Ivan Trojan excels. The last time he got under my skin like this was in a period drama In the Shadow. Josef Trojan also impressed me a lot, and I had big doubts about his talent until recently, but now I am sufficiently convinced that he has talent like his father. I couldn't believe my eyes at how similar the facial expressions were. However, it is also worth mentioning the excellent Juraj Loj as Mikolášek's life partner and the touchingly human Jaroslava Pokorná. Of the downright negative characters, I was most chilled by Miroslav Hanuš, who played the slimy minion of the regime to perfection. Charlatan shows, among other things, the monstrosity of communist thinking and the actions of the rulers of the time. I have to admit that, immediately after the screening, I was completely emotionally shattered, and even now many of my feelings are still reverberating. The story of the contradictory healer Jan Mikolášek is so impressively filmed that I want to find out more about him. Certain ambiguities in the film actually invite that. This is not a bad thing, quite the opposite. When a film sparks my interest in the fate of the person it depicts, then I'm sure I haven't wasted my time. (95%)
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The film greatly surprised me (in a good way). After my previous experience with Agnieszka Holland, I wasn’t getting my hopes up. The fact is that the success of the film was mainly thanks to the protagonist, who took a break from shooting commercials for the Czech Railways, and once again showed us what Trojan is made of. What annoyed me about the film was the terrible EU ass kissing (literally), since the intimate scenes between the two lead actors stuck out like a sore thumb and why was there a need for a direct shot of a bunch of soft bell-shaped objects? Absolutely irrelevant and Mrs. Holland didn’t score any points with me this time either. However, the atmosphere of the 1950s was well captured and I am only glad that I decided to watch Witches' Hammer again yesterday. Inquisition, Gestapo and StB - find ten differences.
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A powerful story about an exceptional person and his cruel fate. It’s a great experience watching both Agnieszka Holland’s outstanding work and the two main protagonists in action. It’s good that this story inspired by real life has been given some space, reminding viewers of a time that mustn’t be forgotten. That people are a nasty species and that love shouldn’t be forbidden. And lastly, I would like to praise how she works with life and the great screenplay.
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