Coming Soon

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 ;-)!!!

Aside from reiterating the praise from the other comments I want to express my opinion that this film in NOT a film about zoophilia. Or, to put it better, this film is as much about zoophilia as Orwell's ANIMAL FARM is about animals. It uses zoophilia (and the question of zoophile-rights) as vehicle to explore far more general and profound questions about humanity, tradition, media, morality, etc.

Regardless of whether or not this film is a real documentary (and there are many conflicting claims floating around the internet - including the films's official website!) it is highly successful in seducing the viewer into new philosophical territory - all while making you laugh and cry.

This type of film is certainly economical suicide since I can't imagine any distributors even touching it, but if the internet proves to be a viable distribution platform I'm convinced this film will become a modern-day classic on par with Pasolini's SALO, Plato's SOCRATIC DIALOGUES, etc. It shares SALO's intelligent shock-value and easily matches the effectiveness of Plato's DIALOGUES in gently guiding the reader/viewer to unexpected conclusions.

If anyone out there is aware of other films that can justifiably be called philosophical works (not just films ABOUT philosophy) please let me know. Aside from WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW I haven't yet encountered anything remotely similar.

Congratulations to Sir Po & Co. and I'll be anxiously looking forward to your future efforts!

"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!

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!