FILM: Brats
Some movies teach us valuable lessons (sharks kill; hookers have hearts of gold; white men can’t jump), but when the family in Zdenek Tyc’s film Brats move to the countryside to escape the racism directed at their two adopted Romany sons it’s obvious that they haven’t seen Straw Dogs. Predictably, it all ends in tears when one of the Romany boys is falsely accused of damaging a local man’s car. The family are then forced to face the subtle and overt racism of residents as well as what defines them as a family.
Set in a culture and country in transition, the film explores how people adapt to change and how these changes force them to re-evaluate what were once cultural norms. The old man whose car was damaged and his wife, whose racism is both overt and passive, are of an age where much of their lives were spent under communist rule. Largely cut-off from other cultures, it would be strange to find their town now home to people whom they would not consider Czech. The modern world is encroaching on their existence – Tesco, motorways, immigration and new types of family units.
The family, on the other hand, struggle with the very concept of family. Is it wrong for the mother to be so protective of her young, blonde, asthmatic, natural son? If Romany boys are both adopted with different birth mothers are they still brothers? If so, why can’t their young friend be their brother too? Are the boys Czech, Romany or half-Romany?
As with Show Me Love, the director used very talented and natural young actors. Unfortunately, he spoils many of the performances by clumsily forcing long intense shots of the characters. The viewer is already aware of what the characters are feeling and these images of their distress and sadness seem manipulative and become irritating. The cinematographic trick that did work was the use of various shots of the village from the treetops and showing the surrounding hills. The town seems like an isolated dimple in the countryside until we see the motorway bridge and the lights of traffic at night remind us of the encroaching urban expanse.
Brats is a film that attempts to deal with topical issues in the Czech Republic, but falls short in its execution. Does it qualify as art? Yes, but not terribly enjoyable art.
Set in a culture and country in transition, the film explores how people adapt to change and how these changes force them to re-evaluate what were once cultural norms. The old man whose car was damaged and his wife, whose racism is both overt and passive, are of an age where much of their lives were spent under communist rule. Largely cut-off from other cultures, it would be strange to find their town now home to people whom they would not consider Czech. The modern world is encroaching on their existence – Tesco, motorways, immigration and new types of family units.
The family, on the other hand, struggle with the very concept of family. Is it wrong for the mother to be so protective of her young, blonde, asthmatic, natural son? If Romany boys are both adopted with different birth mothers are they still brothers? If so, why can’t their young friend be their brother too? Are the boys Czech, Romany or half-Romany?
As with Show Me Love, the director used very talented and natural young actors. Unfortunately, he spoils many of the performances by clumsily forcing long intense shots of the characters. The viewer is already aware of what the characters are feeling and these images of their distress and sadness seem manipulative and become irritating. The cinematographic trick that did work was the use of various shots of the village from the treetops and showing the surrounding hills. The town seems like an isolated dimple in the countryside until we see the motorway bridge and the lights of traffic at night remind us of the encroaching urban expanse.
Brats is a film that attempts to deal with topical issues in the Czech Republic, but falls short in its execution. Does it qualify as art? Yes, but not terribly enjoyable art.
posted by Stephanie at 6:25 AM
4 Comments:
You are on! You'll have to wait until Thursday though. V busy.
How did you find my page, by the way?
The reviews that I have posted to date were ones I had to write as part of a film studies course I took a couple of years ago. They are a bit dry, but I wanted to put something up. When I have a bit more time I am going to try to blog about films I have seen, books read etc..
You can set up blogs so that more than one person can post on it. If I change the name of the blog would you like to post your reviews here?
I think that you have to reply to the blogger email I sent you yesterday to have it set up so that you can post here. Chris is going to do it to so it should be good. Give me suggestions on what we should call it. It started as Stephanie's Reviews, but obviously that doesn't really apply anymore.
There are no rules, just specify in the title what you are reviewing (film, cd, event etc..). I promised to review the event which was meeting The Steve, but I am a bit busy today. Promise to do it by the end of the weekend.
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