Coming Soon

I hope I don't turn people away from this film by calling it philosophical masterpiece, since I also consider MATRIX (at least the first one!) a philosophical masterpiece. There are many philosophical films, but the ones I consider masterpieces are the ones which AREN'T boring! I was invited to a private screening of this film in Pargue a few days after it won an award from a Jury of Students from the University of Pilsen. The producers wanted to show the film to the people who were involved in the film and I was invited by one of the graphic artists. He didn't tell me anything about the film, just that it was a surprise. I go to as many festivals as possible looking for surprises and I rarely find them, so I wasn't very optimistic about this one. But I didn't want to offend my friend so I went.

I wasn't surprised. I was simply shocked! Pleasantly shocked! When the film ended I was angry like when someone wakes me from a beautiful dream. They said they will shorten the final version and I think this is a mistake. The version I saw was two hours and I would have welcomed another hour. Without any special effects or fancy gimmicks, they created a very trippy alternative reality that is like a world by itself. To this day, which is more than 3 months after I saw the film, I think about it and can't stop talking about it (you can ask my wife!).

All I can say to Sir Tijn Po and all the other people who worked on the film is Bravo! I can't wait to seeing it again when you release it in theaters here. I hope other film-makers here learn a lesson from this film that you can make movie magic without big money!

It seems obvious to me that Sir Tijn Po will be regarded as one of the great auteurs of cinema along with Fellini, Bergman, Lynch, as well as his own favorites, Pasolini and Svankmajer. When I compare COMING SOON, Po's directorial debut, with the debut films of these other masters, COMING SOON certainly ranks among the best.

The typical financial constraints of debut films have affected COMING SOON as well (it is rumored to have cost just over 6,000 USD) and I wouldn't consider it a perfect film. But there are clear moments of genius which fortell of a powerful new cinematic language to come.

It's been years since a film has left so many images and questions lingering in my mind and I thank the entire cast and crew for the experience.

See this film if you can!

I think "Coming Really Soon" would have been a better title for this film about a Zoophile Rights group and their planned revolution.

I just saw the film at an annual Czech event called Letni Filmova Skola, which translates as "Summer Film School" even though it isn't really a film school at all. People from all over the world (but mainly Czechs of course) converge on the small Czech town of Uherske Hradiste and peacefully indulge in the best of world cinema - both past and present. One of this year's main themes was Brazilian Film and I was part of one of the delegations. My Czech isn't absolutely fluent but the town was full of provocative posters for "Coming Soon" and I decided to try it. Although the theater was packed and I was sweating for two hours this film was definitely the highlight of the festival for me and certainly the best Czech film I can remember seeing. I pretty much agree with most of the preceding comments except for the woman who says it's not as good as Jan Svankmajer's last film - "Lunacy." I love Svankmajer too but "Coming Soon" has made me re-evaluate so many issues in life that I don't think "Lunacy" can compare from a philosophical standpoint. And the performances in "Coming Soon" (if they are performances... nobody would give me a straight answer) are far better than anything else you'll see in Czech cinema - including "Lunacy." If it's a fake documentary it's genius. If it's a real documentary than it's the ballsiest thing that I've seen years.

"Hats off" as they say in Czech and I hope you make it to Brazil. It will be fun to watch the reactions!

Hello Cinephiles! Just a few quick thoughts about this film which I think has many brilliant sides and some mistakes or imperfections. I saw it at the French Institute of Prague who showed the premiere of the English version of the film a few weeks ago. I waited until today to write because I wasn't absolutely sure what to think about it. The Institute described the film as the most original Czech film of the year and I think it's one of the most original films of the year from anywhere. We had a long discussion after the film and so many ideas were running through my mind. But it is a shocking perverse film which made me think uncomfortable things about myself and the society we live in. Any thing that makes me think so much today is a masterpiece for me. Today it is so rare!

But the film has some mistakes in sound and some confused ideas which make it imperfect for me. But it is still a great film and I agree with many of the opinions already here.

I never saw Svankmajer's films but I know Pasolini and I think he would like it even if the film has a VERY different style. But it is full of ideas, poetry and perversion. Nice job. But be careful ;-)

FINALLY!!! A Czech film that isn't afraid to bite! So many Czech films are the same and look like theater plays. Czech cinema used to be so incredible and now I have the feeling like they are afraid to deal with really serious issues. (I'm from Slovakia and I am not very proud of my own country's film history but I study and live in Brno, Czech Republic and am a huge fan of this country's culture.) Now comes this foreigner and makes a Czech film that I think is incredible. Forman went to America and Po came here! It's not really at all like Forman but more like a strange mixture between Svankmajer and Sverak (the fathers, not the sons!). Some of the other comments here said most of what I wanted to say but I didn't see any Slovaks, so here I am. Wake up my dear Cesi and stop being so careful! Experiment and risk!!! Don't let Americans become the stars of Czech cinema. (I don't have anything against Americans but I think Czechs can make great films too if they start trying.) The only exception is Svankmajer. Nobody compares to him. Sorry Sir Po. Maybe next film??? But I still blow you many kisses for COMING SOON ;-)!!!