Ceský sen

I don't want to waste too much time on this review, as the film itself was already time wasting enough.

First of all, nothing happens. The picture of the film makers being chased on the front cover was bogus, they weren't chased, they weren't attacked -- some people argued with them at the end of the 'prank' in an extremely non-threatening way and that was all.

Secondly, the film was extremely poorly made. It's honestly hard to make a documentary this boring, everything about the production was poor and not even up to a decent amateur standard. It's amazing how poorly edited and selected the cuts that they used were. Just really, really, woefully poor film making.

In the end, when pressed on the issue, the film makers admitted that they got the money for this big hoax as a grant from the Czech government. Apparently, they are privileged boys with some connections. It's actually quite sickening when you think about a relatively poor nation like the Czech Republic having their tax dollars squandered in this way so that two unusually dim witted brats can play a big joke on a couple thousand people.

And I have to say, considering the time and resources involved, getting what looked like at most 2,000 people to show up for the joke is not very impressive. These guys are underachievers all the way to the finish.

Boring, offensive, poorly made, waste of time. End.

A lot of czechs actually became angry at the makers of this movie, they felt betrayed, but it also shows very well how new western style economies can be vulnerable and that appearances rule our lives.

See for yourself how consumers allow themselves to be fooled by 'the big companies' I am not necessarily an anti-globalist or anything, some of the big companies have actually made goods more accessible for everyone, but a large number of us should be more aware of the effect the media have on us.

Other than that the movie is just fun to watch and quite funny at many points.

nice one guys! at'zije konzument

Bas zNizozemi

After seeing this documentary "Ceský sen" (Czech Dream) by Vít Klusák and Filip Remunda in 2004, I do really love this documentary. It is funny and creative. It basically describes two film-making students made up a supermarket which did not really exist and did all kind of advertisement to grab people's attention. Finally, thousand of people came to the "fake" supermarket and then they found themselves cheated by these people. In the process of making all kind of advertisement, such as post cards, direct mails and so on, we can see the sound guy, microphone and all other devices and equipment while they are interviewing with others. In most documentaries, directors may prevent audiences seeing the equipment they are using, but in this film, they purposely showed that to the audiences - remind us this is a movie - this is a game - a fake one! It is ironic that people think documentary should show the reality and the truth. However, people in this film thought that all these were fake - not real. However, in my personal opinion, these two directors did not just "cheat". I think they just used different ways to achieve their purpose. "Cheat these filming people" is merely one way to achieve their goal. Just like Discovery Channel, if directors want to film animals, they also have to do some "particular" ways to achieve their purpose. In this film, the filming objects become from other animals to human being. Thus, I do not think what they did is cheating. Instead, what they have done is just one way to achieve their goal - to see these people's response and show how important the mass medium is. Besides, these consumers did not lose anything - including money. In addition, they have warned people in advance, so I think what they have done is okay. This documentary can be seen as a psychological experimental documentary - then their "cheating" just becomes a way for testing. All other crews who helped make posters, painting and advertisement were not right or wrong. They just did what they did - which were just like props in most films. Besides, they used "tax money" to set up everything and then filmed them out. I did not think they wasted the money, because their movie became many people's discussion subjects and made people think more in mass medium and advertisement matters. By and large, the money they spent is worthy. The dream the two students made up for people was just like a bubble. Eventually it would disappear.

are we really that stupid? sorry but it seems so.. great idea..the guys that actually did this are amazing and so down to earth..they showed up at tiff (well, one of them did) and you could really realize who comes up which such ideas...young freaks (and it's a compliment) that are convinces that something they do can actually change the way people think, even if at a small range (perhaps far too small)..has it changed anyone? well, the czechs may have some unresolved problems (the boys are actually suing the government :))..but it seems as the movie continues its road along europe it becomes more obvious that such a prank was all so needed..a wake up call maybe for europe..to ad or not to ad..to believe everything they sell or not to believe anything they sell

Vít Klusák and Filip Remunda come up with an innovative idea to film a documentary comedy about advertising a supermarket...that doesn't exist. The film shows the viewer the whole process from planning, advertising to building a 'front'. The only part that hasn't been done is the making of the actual supermarket. Through this film they show the power of advertisement, which is a multi-billion dollar industry and the influence it has on the common citizen and that corporate companies really know every button to press in order to successfully manipulate consumers.

In this film, thousands of people excitedly gather together, with family or friends, to 'raid' the non-existent supermarket which is to 'open' at 10:00. Some have even arrived as early as 7:00 a.m. 'Ceský Sen' has sparked a lot of controversy. Many Czech people were infuriated as they felt betrayed and conned and infuriated that the government spent so much money on advertising. Vít Klusák and Filip Remunda have tackled significant issues and pointed out how people have almost become 'pawns' to corporate industries.

'Ceský Sen' is also a well made film. Shot in mock documentary style, Klusák and Remunda bring a lot of humour while touching on various issues relevant to today's economy. Even though they have angered a lot of people, they have awakened many through their poignant film.