This evening, my wife and I will attend a performance of "Lásky jedné plavovlásky" at a local theater, so I wanted to watch this film as preparation. My wife grew up in Communist Czechoslovakia. I immigrated here 25 years ago, and we've been married for 21 years.
The first 99% of the film disgusted me. I rated it 1/10. After the final 1%, I thought to myself, "Oh, that's the point they were trying to make". I raised the rating to 2/10.
THE FIRST 99%
My reactions jumped from...
Andula is a slut. Why do I want to watch a movie about a slut? "Loves of a Blonde", huh? Well, in Czech culture, a "blonde female" has the same derogatory connotation as elsewhere.
to
This film reminds me of Milan Kundera's book "The Unbearable Lightness of Being". Everyone claims it's a classic, but it lacks actual classical substance.
to
Utter disgust at one event after another:
* A man removes his wedding ring with the intent of committing adultery; * Three middle-aged soldiers try to force three young women to get drunk; * Andula tells Milda that she previously tried to kill herself (with a razor blade that broke? yeah, right); * More than one instance of a man trying to take advantage of a young woman in emotional distress; * Milan's attempted rape of Andula; * Milan rolling up the window shade while unknowingly revealing his "package"
Warped, perverted, and 12 other words with the same meaning. In this film, men treat women horribly. They act like lascivious lechers. I haven't seen such behavior in Czechoslovakia. In general, men treat women quite well (that's why feminism has never gained traction here).
Oh, by the way, dialog in this film is idiotic and insipid.
GOOD ASPECTS OF THE FILM
The film has some good scenes, including the loss of the wedding ring at the dance as well as Milda and his parents arguing in bed together.
CONCLUSION
If you want to view truly excellent films about pleasant, simplistic life in Communist Czechoslovakia, see Jiří Menzel's "My Sweet Little Village" and "The Snowdrop Festival".
The first 99% of the film disgusted me. I rated it 1/10. After the final 1%, I thought to myself, "Oh, that's the point they were trying to make". I raised the rating to 2/10.
THE FIRST 99%
My reactions jumped from...
Andula is a slut. Why do I want to watch a movie about a slut? "Loves of a Blonde", huh? Well, in Czech culture, a "blonde female" has the same derogatory connotation as elsewhere.
to
This film reminds me of Milan Kundera's book "The Unbearable Lightness of Being". Everyone claims it's a classic, but it lacks actual classical substance.
to
Utter disgust at one event after another:
* A man removes his wedding ring with the intent of committing adultery; * Three middle-aged soldiers try to force three young women to get drunk; * Andula tells Milda that she previously tried to kill herself (with a razor blade that broke? yeah, right); * More than one instance of a man trying to take advantage of a young woman in emotional distress; * Milan's attempted rape of Andula; * Milan rolling up the window shade while unknowingly revealing his "package"
Warped, perverted, and 12 other words with the same meaning. In this film, men treat women horribly. They act like lascivious lechers. I haven't seen such behavior in Czechoslovakia. In general, men treat women quite well (that's why feminism has never gained traction here).
Oh, by the way, dialog in this film is idiotic and insipid.
GOOD ASPECTS OF THE FILM
The film has some good scenes, including the loss of the wedding ring at the dance as well as Milda and his parents arguing in bed together.
CONCLUSION
If you want to view truly excellent films about pleasant, simplistic life in Communist Czechoslovakia, see Jiří Menzel's "My Sweet Little Village" and "The Snowdrop Festival".