The Snake Brothers

The initial reactions were not only positive, but enthusiasm was also evident in them as if a sports club from a small town struggling at the bottom of the league had triumphed over the champions from the big city. Expressions like "finally, a world-class Czech film" and the like appeared. Because such praise has resonated throughout the Czech Republic several times before, and I subsequently had to adjust my high expectations, I approached the film with caution. Nevertheless, my verdict this time is: after a long time, several months to be precise, this is my best movie theater experience, and since the success of The Way Out last year, this is the first Czech film that is worth going to the movie theater for. This is primarily due to the excellent acting of the Hádek brothers and the attractive portrayal of the community of small-town outsiders - people without education, without what they need, and often unfortunately without responsibility and social intelligence. Both film brothers have their own plans; Užovka's plan is more ambitious, but also somewhat sensitive to external threats. I see a weakness in the script, as I don't really know what the director's focus is. A conflict between the brothers terminated by a divine intervention? Friendship divided by a prison wall? Even here, I don't see a significant dramatic conflict; in the harshly pragmatic environment of Czech society, Užovka's decision seems rational, and the director creates a moral dilemma that, I'm afraid, doesn't actually exist for the majority of viewers. The film touches on a number of issues, but it never goes to the core. What's worse, the ending feels helpless and, moreover, unconvincing. I understand the rise of certain nobodies in films. The antihero of an American drama I recently watched, Nightcrawler, is an example of a character whose transformation from a meaningless nobody to a dangerous player who fiercely pursues his goals is quite believable. But Užovka is not a big player, and in the real world, someone like him is not destined to play the role of a boss. Overall impression: 65%. (02/04/2015)

Jan Prušinovský was able to shoot a drama that realistically captures the Czech social present through authentic locations and believable characters, without manipulating or emotionally blackmailing anyone. If all serious Czech filmmaking reached at least three quarters of this level, we would be doing great. The actors are excellent, the film is very high quality both technically and in terms of its craft, and the directing is top-notch. (17/02/2015)

At times not entirely convincing, with characters acting purposefully to artificially suggest a dramatic plot, but in individual details such as the realistic dialogues, the emotional effect, or the performances of everyone on set, this is an auteur work of transcendent stature. Prušinovský has a good understanding of the ordeals and needs of the lower social classes and fits the purely cinematic story of two different and troubled brothers to them without unnecessary sentimentality and softness. Carry on… (26/11/2015)

Jan Prušinovský is truly a master. I didn’t expect such a shift from the football environment to something less optimistic, but once again, he confirmed that he’s one of the most talented directors of the present. I’m quite surprised I didn’t watch the film earlier, even though I knew it had taken home so many Czech Lion awards. You can’t say anything against casting the Hádek brothers in the main roles—they delivered the performances of their careers, especially the younger Hádek as Kobra. Casting real-life siblings as brothers was a perfect move, as their chemistry was more than believable. Kobra is simply someone you don’t want to deal with because he’s a loose cannon who can explode at any moment. I really sympathized with his older brother Užovka, whose well-built decent life slowly crumbled due to his younger sibling, though no one around him wanted to admit it. As a glimpse into an unappealing environment, it worked just as I imagined. I might have changed a few moments and tried to maintain the atmosphere at a high level throughout, but those are small details. A film spiced with local brilliance. I give it 85%. (20/08/2017)

I finally saw a Czech film that I really liked, that entertained me, and that I watched with the urge to know how it would end. This is mainly because the Hádek brothers are absolutely great in the film. The screenplay isn't surprising, but it's good and effectively captures the Czech reality it focuses on, but the Hádek brothers carry it. (19/01/2017)