Záhrada

One of the best movies I have ever seen. A visually beautiful, modern fairy-tale. This movie can be enjoyed as a comedy with a witty plot and a perfect cast, and, as an essay in the history of culture with archetypical characters and situations. Sulik has a distinctive style of his own, which he continues to develop also in his latest work, "Orbis Pictus", but I think "Garden" is his best movie so far. If you ever get a chance to see it, do so - you will not regret.

Truly satisfying slovak art film.

I am from Slovakia and I watched this film with my dad, who went to the cinema for this film when it was released. Now, he rewatched it with me after 30 years and he could not stop saying how it reminds him of his childhood times in the village called "Pondelok" to which he casually refers to as a true and only home. He also said how authentic it is in terms of screenplay with all the problematic that is discussed. He said that the philosophy insertion(references to Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Ludwig Wittgenstein) was spot on as young students(just as my dad back then) all over Slovakia were contemplating about everything in global level after Velvet Revolution. But he also stressed that it was genuine with such details as hair shearer, cars and interior and exterior of the shack in general.

For me, as someone who loves philosophy and films, this film was really positive surprise. Cinematography and love/countryside plot were original, satisfying, deep and artistic, it was an allegory. Film was enriched by comical passages through the character of Jacob's father played by wonderful Marián Labuda(his son made cameo in this pic as the barman as well). Presenting each chapter in historical slovak vernacular felt like typical works of Hviezdoslav or Kukucin from slovak realism in literature, and I found it kind. Mirror-rotated writings were so creative too. Caterpillar reflection was amazing. I didn't completely get the end, with the levitation stuff, felt magical though. But I am gonna probably rewatch it some time later for sure and have some conversation about it with my dad at the same time.

I didn't save on words in this review, but I needed this so bad to feel comfortable inside, if you know what I mean.

I am not affraid to put this movie into comparison to some slovak classics like "The shop on main street" or "Perinbaba", because this film is important as it speaks its own context based on own period of time in Slovakia. This should be refered to as our(the Slovaks) cinematographic legacy.

Dakujem za krasny film.

Have you ever dreamt about Love ? The one which comes out of nowhere, turns your world upside down, heals all your wounds and gives your life a meaning ? Now this movie is about a love like this. It is a contemporary romantic fairy tale with a good sense of humor achieved by not taking itself too seriously. You won't regret seeing it.

A film about origins and ordinary mysteries. About the nuances of childhood. About freedom. A school teacher and his father. A young woman. A girl. And a garden. A poem about roots and happiness. It is difficult to describe this movie. The story of Jakub is only self definition. Few parts, some characters as steps to real image of reality, trees and ants, magic and exile, knowledge and answers. Small drops of a spring rain. And the fly. It is a form of soul song. And shadow of lost ages. A fairy tall with taste of apples and summer vacation. Nothing complicated. Maybe, a Proust madlene. That movie type about nothing and all. A travel to memories and slice of silence. And nostalgics bones of a far world.

Martin Sulik's poetic vision of reality offers an interesting probe into the relationship between an elderly father (Marian Labuda) and his son Jakub (Roman Luknar) in his early 30's. The main story is happening in the old garden, which belonged to Jakub's grand father. In this mysterious place he finds the peace he was looking for so desperately. What is even more important - the father and the son finally find the way to each other. Like in other Sulik's movies, the plot, story and tension are not the most important. This kind of poetic cinematography is more about the mood and quite hardly identifiable joy coming from "no one knows what". A timeless independent movie. Good work.