Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by jamesgarvin (A) on April 12, 2005 at 07:16:42

I finished watching this Czechoslovakian film last night. It is a 2001 film starring Vlastimil Brodsky as a seventy six year old retiree, Hana. He and his friend Eda, played by Stanislav Zindulka, play practical jokes, such as showing up at mansions pretending to be wealthy, telling young girls that they are subway police, and that they are willing to accept a kiss in exchange for not citing them for jumping the turnstile (gotta try that one). In addition to his pranks, he is very generous, frequently giving money away to those he deems needy.

His wife is played by Stella Zazvorkova. She is financially responsible (tight), who has a jar for every expense. Her most important savings is the jar for their funeral.

On one of his pranks, he inadvertantly gives the real estate agent his real card, which leads the real estate agent to pop over to his apartment and provide him a bill for the food, limosine, and time wasted. His efforts to obtain the money lead to the second act of the film. At that point, the film looks like it will be a pleasant, light comedy.

The Third act is where the film turns into a more poignant piece. During the course of the film, his wife and son are asking that they move into a retirement home so that his son can put his former wife and children into their apartment. He explodes, leaves, goes to his friend's house, and tells his friend to play the ultimate prank, which will hopefully end the issue.

As a result, his wife threatens divorce, and is actually in court when she has a change of heart. He promises to change. Begin the fourth act. He stops smoking. Drinking. And playing practical jokes. His friend, who earlier tells him that he only lives because of their relationship, is hospitalized. Hana blankly stairs out the window, like his dead downstairs neighborhood.

He has begun to die. And his wife notices the change. This is not a film which will change your life, but it certainly emphasizes that you can either live, or die. The film is not about the pranks, per se, but rather what the pranks and generosity mean to this man's life. It could be fishing, bowling, or, heaven forbid, being an audiophile. We have a local Magistrate who is ninety-nine years of age. He has said that if he retires, he will die. This film helps to explain that concept. Very recommended.