Waves

Of all of Jiří Mádl’s directorial efforts, which so far have always exhibited rather striking naïveté and unbelievability, Waves is by far the best. Among other things, that is because it does not suffer from the ills of his previous films. It is superbly prepared in dramaturgical terms and its carefully structured narrative seamlessly combines a very large number of story lines. The film is an example of top-rate craftsmanship in every respect, whether that refers to the period stylisation, costumes, acting or music. Thanks in particular to the driving music, dynamic editing and feel for building suspense, the scenes involving a clash between the police and student demonstrators, the arrival of tanks in Prague in August 1968 and the military assault on the Czech Radio building are comparable to many Hollywood action thrillers due to their intensity and spectacular execution. In the numerous well-written and varied supporting characters based on real journalists and reporters from the Editorial Office of International Life, who struggled with censorship during the Prague Spring and strived at all costs to keep broadcasting during the invasion, the prevailing feature is absolute clarity, in both their emotions and motivations. This important story deserved an honest, sophisticated and first-class treatment, so it is extremely pleasing that Waves ranks among the best in the context of contemporary Czech films. (2024-07-02)

Jiří Mádl has managed to do something that is hard to see in contemporary Czech cinema, he made a film of European quality. He tells a story that, without any pathos and black and white, works well as a historical account, but also as a parallel to the present time and recent events elsewhere. The 130 minutes pass like water and the film resonates nicely after the end, as confirmed by the huge audience applause at this year's premiere in the Great Hall. [KVIFF 2024] (2024-07-02)