From Depression to Hope Tomas
Vorel's Cesta z mesta
a film by Tomas Vorel
From Depression to Hope Tomas
Vorel's Cesta z mesta
Reviewed by Ivana Kosulicova
After Tomas Vorel's last film, the self-indulgent Kamenny most (The Stone Bridge, 1996), his latest offering, Cesta z mesta (Out of the City, 2000), is an unexpected surprise that showcases the abilities of the director as never before. Moving on from his previous films which include the postmodern Prazska petka (Prague Five, 1988), the musical farce Kour (The Smoke, 1990) and Kamenny most Vorel uses personal testimony to analyze contemporary society, an approach which is used only rarely in Czech cinema.
Kamenny most's somber story of film director Tomas trying to find his place in the world is more reminiscent of self-therapy than an artistic work created for audience. But while Cesta z mesta has evidence of being autobiographical, it does not stay wrapped up in itself, and it grows into an important and topical testimony.
Cesta z mesta opens with Tomas Hanak playing the lead role of Honza. As a hardworking software programmer, Honza's life consists of a familiar hectic schedule complicated by ringing phones and traffic jams. A phone call from Honza's son, Honzik, interrupts his activities, and soon the two, along with the family dog Bingo, find themselves driving away for the weekend, with the consent of both Honza's ex-wife and his boss.
Out in the countryside, they stumble upon a beautiful young girl
picking apples. She is Marketa and lives in a cottage with her
grandmother, who is an herbal medicine woman.
Marketa
introduces Honza to the village life where he meets various
characters such as Ludva the tractor driver, an evil hunter
and a homosexual lumberjack. Under the influence of the natural
and friendly atmosphere surrounding Marketa and her grandmother,
Honza eventually decides to take an extended vacation from work.
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Full review at CER.
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