dir. Jiří Barta, Czech Republic, 2009, 90'
The personality of Jiří Barta is mostly connected with the masterpiece The Pied Piper and his dreamt-of but unimplemented project, The Golem. Even though these works are, in many aspects, permeated with a gloomy atmosphere and spirituality, we cannot think Barta is unable to tell stories to children.
His excursion into the world of children's imagination, which materialized in the space of an old attic, gives evidence of the author's boyhood inspiration. That Barta knows this world very well shows in the extensive plot, the central battle between good and evil, the uncomplicated flow of storytelling and the clear typology of characters. Patterns from fairy-tales as well as attributes of the adventure genre (with favourite motive of saving an expedition) provide an intelligible message. Then Barta could focus more on the visual aspects of his fairy-tale. The disarming lightness with which he brought to life the "old odds and ends", set the spirit of the film and it is the main reason for watching it time and time again. A child's imagination and playfulness and the sensitivity of the scenes unquestionably affect you emotionally.
Lukáš Gregor
