Die Knöpfler

Zelenka's sense of humor will get you, in the end. Provided you speak Czech, of course. If you do, this is a must-see movie. Do not expect comedy, though; rather be prepared to re-think your opinion of black humor and to get some bizarre ideas of what pastime is. Some of their best acting by Eva Holubova, Rudolf Hrusinsky, Jiri Kodet or Borivoj Navratil.

It makes me angry when people describe this film as funny even I cannot avoid the fact that Petr Zelenka has unusual sense of humor. But he is a person that rarely laughs himself. He looks serious and distant like any other self-aware genius. I am much more delighted with his intelligence, his perfect feeling for details and his ability to entirely connect all little parts of this quite complicated story. He is not only a brilliant scenarist but also an extraordinary talented director who truly knows how to chose his actors. There are so many reasons to see this movie, not only once - so, if you have a chance, just grab it!

This film was an introduction to Czech film for me whilst visiting Prague, last summer. And i have to say that I was impressed.

The best part of the film is the taxi driver, passenger and the passenger's wife...watch the film to fully understand but it was definitely one of the best "audience-knows-what is happening-but-characters -don't,scenes i have ever seen!

The film consisted of different story lines woven together, though it was hard to see the connection of some of them, especially the world-war II pilot. The cinematography and views of Prague were great and some of the small insights and details in some of the characters were universal, and therefore very recognisable. Definitely worth another viewing on DVD!

Nobody does film like the Czechs. While they're most known for the Czech New Wave of the 60's and 70's, a foreign film buff should not ignore their contemporary works. Zelenka's "The Buttoners" will convince you to further explore the dark humor, twisted logic, and tranquil fatalism characteristic of Czech film. While I realize anyone who has dug so deep into Czech films to come across this has probably seen these, I want to take my soapbox moment to recommend the following: Classics - "The Joke," "Closely Watched Trains," "Fireman's Ball," "Diamonds in the Night," "Larks on a String." (Please don't consider this an exclusive list--keep exploring) Contemporary - "Panel Story," "Kolya," (Best Foreign Oscar, 1996), Another one, whose name I can't remember, but it is called the Czech "Reality Bites." Anyway, get into Czech film. Always keep in mind their history over the last century. It definitely matters.

Like one of the characters in the movie, Zelenka underlines human originality in his beautifully written, directed, acted, photographed and edited film. The film has a great sense of humor. Too bad it's not easy to find around -may be P.T. Anderson would have liked to see it; since he has a lot to learn from Zelenka on connecting various characters with each other, in a way that makes sense.