Customer Reviews

Kolya

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I originally saw this film in a local theater during an International Film Festival, and not long later a co-worker, having heard me rave about it a few times, bought me the video for Christmas. I have watched my Kolya video about once a year since, and I never tire of it. It is just wonderful. I don't find subtitles distracting if they're done well, which they are here (brief sentences, no white text against a backdrop of white walls or tablecloths!) Having always wanted to visit Prague, about which I've heard only wonderful things, I love the film's setting. I think the acting is wonderful, the music beautiful, and the plot charming. You also learn (or are reminded of) some relatively recent and interesting Czech history as an added benefit. There are many clever, poignant and witty cinematic moments in this film (watching it more than once helps you catch them all). And I am utterly smitten by Louka's captivating, romantic tower apartment!! I want one! :-)

This film charms me in such a quiet, touching, unassuming way every time I watch it. I'm glad it's part of my collection.

And, I might add, this magnificent Czech film deserved to win these coveted awards.

I have recently been fortunate to have had the opportunity to see some brilliant Foreign Language Films and KOYLA is one of the best. When it was over, I just sat there not wanting to leave this beautiful little boy and the man who opened his heart to this child. So, I watched the extras and it made me love this movie even more after seeing the commentary. Zdenek Sverak, the handsome lead character in Koyla also wrote the story. It took him over a year because he put so much into it. Sometimes he would have to put it away for a couple of months because it was too heart wrenching. In my estimation, Sverak is a genius--what a compelling, beautiful and evocative story. And, his screen presence was amazing. A true family affair, Sverak's son, Jan, is the director.

After a search spanning several countries, an unknown child, five-year-old Andrej Chalimon was found in Moscow. This little boy is so gifted and so natural, he took my breath away and melted my heart. The fetching Libuse Safrankova stars as Klara, the singer with the operatic voice who also ends up stealing Louka's (Sverak) heart.

The story takes place in 1988 when Russia and communism is still destroying the country but is beginning to fade. Louka, a gifted musician (viola) has been fired from the famed Czechoslovakian Philharmonic Orchestra for merely giving a sarcastic response to a Russian interrogator. With his small income from playing at funerals/crematoriums and refurbishing grave headstones, The 55 year-old Louka falls deeper and deeper into debt. He must support himself and his mother who lives in another town and who has a flat that is quite expensive to keep up. His best friend talks him into marrying a young woman from Russia (who needs a Czech citizenship) for a large sum of money. Eventually this confirmed bachelor apprehensively agrees although ends up regretting it when she immediately absconds to West Germany to be with her lover. Alas, she leaves behind the most adorable child I have ever seen on film. The story does have some twists and turns and all but the hardest of hearts will shed a tear.

I loved this movie very, very much. It is a heart-warming, moving, and captivating tale that I will never forget. I plan to buy this film so I can share it with my friends and family. Oh--and I almost forgot to mention the music. Wow, it was fabulous and it enhanced an awesome picture.

This is not a movie; it is a film, almost a work of art. Zdenak Sverak does a wonderful job as the slightly curmudgeonly cellist, and Andrej Chalimon is perfect as the young Kolya of the title. The film slowly yet marvelously follows the development of the relationship between the two characters. The music that follows the scenes is wonderfully written, I highly recommend that fans of the movie buy the soundtrack as well. This is my favorite film of all time, American- or foreign-made, and one that nobody should miss.

Although, I personally do not consider the Academy award to be a trademark of quality, somehow it happens that most of the foreign films awarded tend to be superior. This is also true in the case of Jan and Zdenek Sveraks' Kolja. I purposely say superior not excellent. As a person born and raised in the communistic Czechoslovakia I am very proud of the Czech cinematography as well as I am proud of my nation for being so particular about what to watch. Especially remarkable was the role the film art as a messenger during the time when it was not possible to say directly what had to be said.

Kolja is one of the many above-average movies made after the revolution and reflecting people's experience of the communist regime. However, I value even more the ones that had been made before the revolution. They were excellent and they made people stop and think. Czech cinematography offers a great number of excellent and extraordinary films, which will probably never be available here in the USA (e.g. films by Chytilova, Menzel, Forman, Herz, Kachyna, Zelenka and others). I truly think that the only way for a foreign film to succeed in the United States is to be, at least, nominated for the academy award. Which leaves many of the older ones undiscovered.

I'm very glad that Kolja had a chance to reach people beyond the borders of my country and that it has turned people's attention back to the little country in the heart of Europe.

I truly recommend you to watch Kolja. And I believe that if you liked this film, you might try to reach for the rest that's left out there for you.

....I can't resist to make a comment on the little review from the German reviewer saying that the communist would never let people like Louka behave the way he did in the film. I disagree. They have been fighting their every day's little wars against everyone who's tried to enslave them. If not necessarily by burning themselves on the squares of Prague then at least by not decorating their windows with the Soviet Union or other flags. But this is something about Czech people the Germans will probably never understand.

We are introduced to Louka in the twilight of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, a 55-year old incorrigible womanizer, blacklisted concert cellist, and a bachelor with the typical bachelor conundrum -- how to make ends meet. He's slipping further into poverty when he agrees to participate in a scam to save a Russian woman from deportation by, you guessed it, marrying her. She promptly flees to the West, leaving Louka with her 5 year old, Russian-speaking son, Kolya.

That's somewhat predictable, but the film has a warmth that you'd expect from Disney and carries a fluent minimalism that is truly effective. Setting the story against the backdrop of the approaching "Velvet Revolution" emphasizes Louka's spiritual growth. It does not rush his slow realization of his capacity to love, pried out by his young, innocent ward.

On the somewhat downside, the movie doesn't take too many risks, I had the sense that I could second-guess most of the next screens. Yet, this is a brilliant film with a really adorable kid, and IMHO deserved its Oscar every bit.

Definitely a worthy rental!

My husband actually brought this home from our public library and I am so very glad he did.

Having read the other reviews, I have to agree that most likely something was missed in translating to the English. "Word-play" in one language can be impossible to translate into another and still retain a humorous meaning. So I really didn't find the movie funny at any point.

However, it was an experience not to be missed. I thought the growing relationship between Louka and Kolya, complicated at first by their lack of a shared language and by the upheaval in both of their lives, was handled with great sensitivity.

The bathtub scene in which Kolya tries to "telephone" his dead "Grandma" will stay with me forever. Partly because I can imagine a real, grieving five-year-old doing something like that and partly because of Louka's silent but evident compassion for Kolya.

In the key-ringing scene, it was symbolic that the secret police investigators who interrogated Louka earlier in the movie are on-hand, ringing keys, and that the policemen and Louka see and acknowledge one another.

The movie was bittersweet in so many ways, as real life can be, also. There's so much more to say, but I don't want to ruin the experience for anyone who may not have already seen the movie.

For anyone thinking of watching it, please don't let the subtitles hold you back. It has been a very long time since I have seen a movie that was so strong in its simplicity and so honest in its character portrayals. Word-play may not have come through, but the humanity of the movie needed no translation.

Don't miss out.

A Czech bachelor/musician's life is turned upside down when he agrees to marry a Russian woman just so she can get her paperwork to leave Russia. She has a small child who comes along with her. She is apparently in love with a man in Germany and one day runs off to be with the man, leaving the boy in the musician's care. Of course you can predict where the story goes... the man's stuffiness and crankiness disappears as he comes to care for the boy, and when the time comes that he must give the boy up, he feels that his life is unalterably changed. The film won an Academy Award for best foreign film, and you can see why. It is a good story, entertaining film, well acted, and overall lovely. You cannot resist the setting of Prague!

I first saw this film close to 10 years ago, long before it was nominated for, and won an Oscar award. At that time I was a graduate student studying international relations and the themes in Kolya were so real and vivid. I myself had been in the Czech Republic in the Spring of 1992 as a student so I was unsure if my fondness for the film was because of my particular history with Europe at that time or whether it really was a great film. Thankfully, my memories of this film were not betrayed upon my recent revisit and I highly recommend this for first time viewers or returners.

Although the obvious "political" themes of the movie (Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia and the impact on daily life there) are less significant now, the depiction of this older Czech man (the perpetual bachelor unattached and seemingly satisfied in his solitary existence save for the occasion need to satisfy his carnal desires with visits from women young and old alike) and his relationship with the little Russian boy ( the pure and innocent youth who symbolizes the hope and promise and trust and faith that his older counterpart is conspicuously missing) that captured his heart are timeless. Whilst at times I worry that some of the meaning of the story is lost for non- Russian and non- Czech speakers (part of the poignancy of this story is in that the little boy who becomes the ward of this old man speaks only Russian and the man speaks only Czech... so they attempt to communicate with each other but the detail of this is lost for those of us unfamiliar with either language), even with subtitles you can gain much of the spirit of the film by watching the interplay and the fondness between the boy, Kolya and the man, Louka.

This is a story to warm your heart, it is in the tradition of cinema that does not rely on creative use of light nor colour nor extensive dialogue. Instead it is an exercise in movement and emotion, of innocence lost and innocence returned. It is a slice of life, there are no deeper nor hidden moral lessons here. Rather it is a demonstration of the basic human need of companionship and love, for however brief, in whatever form it takes. This film has mass appeal as it plays to both the male and female audiences- if you are looking for a pleasurable story with no hidden subtext that leaves you just a bit warm and fuzzy- this is it!

An excellent movie from Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia till 1989). The story revolves around a cellist called Louka (Zdenek Sverák... as handsome as Sean Connery) who despite his virtuosity only plays at funerals. Louka is middle-aged, single and has promiscuous flings with women. He is struggling financially and gets coaxed into a surrogate marriage with a Russian lady. The marriage is a trite business deal: The Russian gets Czech citizenship and Louka much needed money. However, the Russian emigrates to West Germany as soon as she becomes a Czech citizen. The cops smell fish and come looking for Louka. Things get even better when Louka gets surprise baggage in the form of Kolja (his Russian wife's son played by Andrei Chalimon). Kolja can only speak Russian, has nowehere to go and Louka is forced to take him in. This marks a turning point in Louka's life.
The reluctant father & reluctant son interaction is hilarious, heartwarming and poignant. In one of the scenes Louka prepares dinner and tea for Kolja, who stubbornly refuses to eat. Despite Louka's constant urging to eat Kolja doesn't oblige. Louka gives up, turns away from the dinner table in hopeless despair. After a little while he comes back to dinner table to find that Kolja has finished the hot cup of tea. Kolja has taken Louka in. Their bond gets stronger and they get close to each other. Louka even manages get his ex-girlfriends to sing lullabies for Kolja over the phone. Suddenly, Louka finds immense sense & purpose in his life. However, life takes another turn and his Russian wife comes back from West Germany to take possession of Kolja (she isn't staying). Kolja leaves with his mother. Louka is a lonely person once again, but transformed.
The movie is very artistic and some of the best scenes in the movie do not have dialogs, just powerful silent expressions and gestures. A better part of the movie has been shot in beautiful Prague (a city brimming with stunning architecture, paved streets, magnificent bridges and beautiful people) that just adds to the movie's appeal.
The movie alludes to the Velvet revolution, but that didn't capture my attention at all. This is a movie about relations and letting other people in, music and leading a simple purposeful life.

Masterful acting by Zdenek Sverák and Andrei Chalimon.

This is such a great film. Really deeper than I was expecting. If only Criterion or Anchor Bay would get the rights and put it out on DVD!