Tři životy

The screenwriter didn’t work too hard on this and the cast could do with at least a pinch of charisma. On the other hand, the director, Jiří Strach, aspires to shoot “darker" fairy tale, successfully disguising the low budget with the help of beautiful exteriors in the shape of Czech forests, meadows and hillsides. Even though he knew about the poor budget he didn’t turn to the ugly wannabe effects, so popular in this country. What definitely deserves great praise is the musical side, just a shame that its spectacularity isn’t reflected on the visual side as well. A fairytale which will never become a classic, but which, compared to all the miserable offerings that we were served in the past, is at least average and quite pleasantly bearable on Christmas Eve. Especially when you are unwrapping gifts to it. (25/12/2007)

Jiří Strach's previous work hinted that the young generation of directors would have a clear leading figure in the years to come, but what a mistake! Because here he stepped into a pile of crap in the form of a tragic screenplay, for which I would let the dramaturgists be whipped for approving it. I like simple fairy tales that clearly divide good and evil, focus on what they need to, and don't aim for higher goals. But this was primitive, something I would be ashamed to show even to the youngest kids. My parents drowned out this Christmas Eve monstrosity with a glass of wine. I'm not a fan of wine, so at least I evaluate things as I see them. (25/12/2007)