Coming Soon

All I can say about this film is "Bravo"!!! I can't remember a gutsier film in years. And this is going to start off a very interesting chain reaction. There are already people around the world organizing in ways which are portrayed in this film and I firmly believe that it will become an historical milestone in the history of zoophile rights and society in general. This may just be another, more peaceful, "Stonewall"...something that finally comes along and bursts another bubble.

But that's just an interesting side-effect of a film that opens up many other issues. I don't want to copy the film's official synopsis but it really sheds light on issues of progress vs. tradition, habit vs. exploration, as well as many other "old" issues.

Hard to describe but easy to recommend!!!

I must say that I'm quite surprised that everyone here on IMDb and even in the Czech media is praising this film. I thought I would have to come here to defend it! But all the comments are compliments?!

When I heard of this film and what it is about I thought it was making fun of minorities and was a little afraid to watch it. I am a member of Lesbian community here and people tolerate us but you never see Lesbian or Gay heroes in Czech films. When I heard that "Coming Soon" is about zoophilia-rights organization I thought it was making fun of our struggle here because we just had a new big victory with the law. But this film is amazing. Shocking but amazing! When they showed it my town they had a guest from the film and after there was a discussion with the audience and he asked how many people are now ready to give rights to zoophiles. HALF the people raised their hands!!! I am sure that before the film started not even one person would raise their hand. This film in a very smart and sensitive and even funny way shows how silly it is to bother other people about what they like to do sexually. I cried when all those people raised their hands because of what it means for me and people like me and ALL people who like unusual things.

I don't know if I'm explaining this very clear but I think it's one of the most important films in a long time and I want to thank all the people who made it. I agree with the jury in Plzen who gave them the Special Award for originality helping minorities and I hope it will win many more! This is a film many people will use when they have to explain some unusual desires... Great, great film!!! :-) :-) :-)

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 ;-)!!!

"Coming Soon" is my favorite film this year! A bit sloppy at times but a great overall achievement!

In the catalogue for the Plzen festival where the film premiered, they quote Sir Tijn Po as saying that he just wants to emulate his two greatest film-making heroes, Jan Svakmajer and Pier Paolo Pasolini. I never heard this comparison before and I find it a little strange. I also love both Svankmajer and Pasolini but their styles are so different - Svankmajer's films never let up for a second while many of Pasolini's scenes seem to last forever. I do agree, however, that both of these directors seem to approach cinema with similar intentions and try using it as a tool to express what is usually expressed via poetry, theater, classical music and the like. But their individual styles are almost opposites.

"Coming Soon" reminded me more of Munch's classic painting "The Scream". You can feel the actors and director just bursting with frustration and screaming at the top of their lungs, screaming to all clergy, politicians, and censors "F...off! Let us think and breathe and live the way WE see fit!!!" For me it was an expressionistic work of art that lingers long after the individual scenes fade away. It's a collective revolt which I identify with very much.

One of the main newspapers here, Hospodarske Noviny, wrote about the film: "…conveyed with an extraordinary amount of humor and exaggeration which like the director's hero (Svankmajer) tries to shatter barriers." The style of this film is far from Svankmajer's world (no animation or rusty spoons) but I agree that it shares his sense of provocation and exploration.

Talking of Pasolini, this film actually did remind me a bit of "Salo: 120 Days of Sodom" at least as far as shock-value is concerned. But unlike "Salo" which is full of violence and Sadism, "Coming Soon" is full of love and humor (except for the one scene with the bull and skins…). While watching the film I wasn't uncomfortable at all, my own shock came days after I saw the film. It's like a little bug that enters your brain and slowly nibbles away at your previous opinions.

I'm curious to see how far this film will go but I'm betting it will find a nice cult following. I, for one, am in!

This is one of the best movies I have seen this year... It is presented as an "reportage", but... Some of the audience may not realize till the end of the movie if it is really true or not... And after seen it you will watch the world around you more careffourly and see some things from new angles... And you will think more about them. BTW: is there somebody around you who uses the little thing on keys in a form of a cow, rabbit or something like this... Then you will find in this movie, what exactly it means :-)

I would like to say something more about it, but no, it is too hard to say what is the movie about... you should watch it. If you have the possibility, just do it!

It will probably not be on DVDs any time soon... so you will have to look for it in some theatre... If you are in Czech Republic you have better chances, but it is going to be released in English really soon, so don't miss your chance!

BTW: when it finished I was asking myself why it was so short... but it took the standard 90 minutes :-)