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  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.78:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  • Dual Layer ( )
  Languages
  • Czech: Dolby Digital Stereo
  Subtitles
    English
  Extras
  • Theatrical trailer - Gadjo Dilo
  • Featurette - Making of

Kolya

Madman Entertainment/AV Channel . R4 . COLOR . 105 mins . PG . PAL

  Feature
Contract

Franta Louka (Sean Connery look-alike, Zdenek Sverák) is a concert cellist and lapsed, part-time political activist Czech living in the beautiful city of Prague. The Russian Army’s presence is notable, influential and hated. Louka has an eye for the ladies, and they, inexplicably, have an eye for him. At 55, he seems to have a good life. He now plays in a string quartet specialising in funerals and is no longer in the Philharmonic due to his past political activism, he teaches cello to pretty young things with a fetish for Papa Smurf and has a nice apartment in a nice part of town. What could go wrong?

Louka is financially strapped, owes money, needs a new car, and can barely afford to run the house he owns but his mother occupies. It is at this point he reluctantly agrees to an arranged marriage with a young (and pretty, naturally) woman who is facing deportation to Russia. He needs the cash, she needs Czech papers, and everyone is better off. Da? Nyet!

Louka’s new wife does a ‘Carmen Electra’ and bunks off in a matter of days, fleeing to her love waiting in West Germany. Louka is hardly shattered, but he is not prepared for what happens next. Two paramedics arrive at his door with his new wife’s five-year-old son in tow – Kolya (Andre Chalimon).

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Ventriloquism - the forgotten art.

Kolya has been left with his grandmother, but she has collapsed and been rushed to hospital, hence the paramedics. Unable to hand him back, Louka arranges to meet the ‘wedding planner’ the next day and dump Kolya with him. It’s too bad for him that the ‘wedding planner’ already has four kids, a wife, and enough pets to open a wildlife park. Louka old son, he’s yours!

Louka subsequently applies to the authorities to take the boy into care, and they leap into action and shove his application letter to the back of the pile. That’s communism for ya!

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"On your bike, mate!"

Louka is forced to take care of Kolya and naturally a bond forms between them (despite the Czech/Russian language barrier), that finally comes under threat when the authorities get to his application and make arrangements to send Kolya back to Russia, and into the care of the Russian welfare system. Louka, of course, is not keen on this idea, but it seems he has little choice. With Kolya's mother nowhere to be seen and his grandmother dead, and Louka's sham marriage under investigation, it seems the world could not get any worse.

Despite the DVD cover claiming the film is “…endlessly funny”, there are no real laughs here, but at least the claim “Uplifting…” is slightly more accurate. This is not a comedy, but a genuinely warm film containing some amusing moments, and a theme that has been explored before. Kolya won the 1996 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and the corresponding Golden Globe, so it certainly impressed someone.

The acting is very good, the soundtrack is classically themed and well suited. The first 30 minutes or so is a little slow as the mood and characters are developed, and while the film does pick up, it always seems to fall just short of being very good. There is no deep bond between Louka and Kolya, but at times that works to the film’s advantage and saves it from becoming trite. The whole film has a slightly documentary feel to it, but is mostly enjoyable.

  Video
Contract

This is quite a stunning looking image presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and 16:9 enhanced. The image is very sharp and solid. There is excellent clarity and detail, with natural colouring and solid black levels. There are no issues with colour bleeding or noise, and virtually no film artefacts bar a few quick and small white flecks that number but a handful. Grain is not present.

There are no compression artefacts to speak of, no edge enhancement, and shadow detail is also fine. The layer change is a little clumsy at 68:16, but is between scenes at least.

  Audio
Contract

The only audio option is a rather good Czech Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo track which is clear, with a good sound range and synch which is fine. There is minimal separation and panning, but there is no real call for sonic acrobatics. Whilst dialogue is nice and clear, most of us will rely on the subtitles that are easy to read, but occasionally quick to disappear.

There is no action from anything other than the left and right front channels, but maybe the Czech 5.1 track that blessed the European release of Kolya might not have been too much to ask.

There is still a nice crispness to the track, but the only low-level sounds are during some of the music and some passing tanks, but it does highlight the track's depth.

  Extras
Contract

While the European DVD was blessed with plenty of extras including a Czech-language commentary, we are at least blessed with the Czech-language, English subtitled Behind the Scenes where we are taken on a fairly shallow tour of what went on behind the scenes while shooting the film. It includes comments from writer/actor Zdenek Sverak and discussion on casting, filming, and logistics. At 20 minutes it is just long enough and is in full frame with large clear subtitles.

There is also a Trailer for Gadjo Dilo that is run-of-the-mill stuff.

  Overall  
Contract

Like most European films, there is a restrained emotion about Kolya. It could have easily gone down the Hollywood tried and tested “grumpy-old-man-gets-cutesy-kid-dumped-on-him” road and failed as most of them do. Instead, this film is saved by the fact that it isn’t overly sentimental or emotional. It tells a story rather than trying to get you all warm and fuzzy to the point of nausea. Those who like ‘real’ movies should find this to their liking.


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=2586
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      And I quote...
    "Another “old man inherits young child” saga. At least this one scores low on the “Mush-o-meter”… "
    - Terry Kemp
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Akai
    • TV:
          TEAC CT-F803 80cm Super Flat Screen
    • Receiver:
          Pioneer VSX-D409
    • Speakers:
          Wellings
    • Centre Speaker:
          Wellings
    • Surrounds:
          Wellings
    • Subwoofer:
          Sherwood SP 210W
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard RCA
    • Video Cables:
          standard s-video
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