Genre: Comedy, Drama
Director: Pavel Jurácek
Starring:Pavel Landovský, Ladislav Jakim, Hana Ruzicková, Ivan Vyskocil
Language: Czech
Duration: 83 min.
Summary:
A narrative diptych contrasting the dreams and aspirations of
young men, barely adults, with the reality of the socialist army.
Every Young Man is the first feature length film from writer and director by Pavel Jurácek, who previously wrote and directed the short film Joseph Kilian. Much like his fellow countryman Milos Forman's feature debut, Audition/Talent Competition, this one is also comprised of two short segments related in theme but not story.
Both parts deal with young men in the military. The first scenario follows a young recruit and his superior officer as they travel into town to have an injury looked at. Recalling some of the same surreal atmosphere of Joseph Kilian, strangely all of the young women that the two encounter on their day trip are played by the same actress (Hana Ruzicková), whose on screen presence is always signaled by the same musical cue, a catchy rockabilly style tune. It's a bizarre scenario with a few humorous moments, though nothing much happens nor is there really much of an attempt at the political critique found in Jurácek's previous effort. I really struggled to see the purpose behind the images on display here. Perhaps Jurácek's point is the military is not always the exciting occupation that we are lead to believe.
The second, and longer half of the film is set on an army base, and spends a great deal of time following young soldiers training and in other various mundane situations. Again there is a song that is repeated several times throughout, what appears to be a traditional rhyming marching tune. We watch the young men doing their compulsory duties, and also see them in their down time horsing around just being boys. Though interesting, it doesn't amount to much more than random vignettes until almost the last twenty minutes. When we find out that a dance is going to be held and they expect a bus full of young ladies to arrive soon. What follows is an excellent, highly memorable sequence both tragic and comedic that makes the preceding hour of aimlessness all worthwhile.
Both parts deal with young men in the military. The first scenario follows a young recruit and his superior officer as they travel into town to have an injury looked at. Recalling some of the same surreal atmosphere of Joseph Kilian, strangely all of the young women that the two encounter on their day trip are played by the same actress (Hana Ruzicková), whose on screen presence is always signaled by the same musical cue, a catchy rockabilly style tune. It's a bizarre scenario with a few humorous moments, though nothing much happens nor is there really much of an attempt at the political critique found in Jurácek's previous effort. I really struggled to see the purpose behind the images on display here. Perhaps Jurácek's point is the military is not always the exciting occupation that we are lead to believe.
The second, and longer half of the film is set on an army base, and spends a great deal of time following young soldiers training and in other various mundane situations. Again there is a song that is repeated several times throughout, what appears to be a traditional rhyming marching tune. We watch the young men doing their compulsory duties, and also see them in their down time horsing around just being boys. Though interesting, it doesn't amount to much more than random vignettes until almost the last twenty minutes. When we find out that a dance is going to be held and they expect a bus full of young ladies to arrive soon. What follows is an excellent, highly memorable sequence both tragic and comedic that makes the preceding hour of aimlessness all worthwhile.
While not a monumental achievement, and lacking the universal charm of the works of Passer and Forman, Every Young Man is still a valuable addition to the Czechoslovak New Wave. A beautifully shot film that gives us a small taste of military life under socialism.
— Bonjour Tristesse
2 comments:
I don't know if I can find myself wanting to watch a movie, knowing full well that it'll only be good for the ending. The last time I tried a similar watch I almost slept.
I dout I will ever see this one BT. But thanks for telling me about it. I do like learning about new cinema here!
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