Jan Palach

The brief life and death of Czech student Jan Palach, best remembered for his self-immolation while protesting the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia is presented through a chronicle of his final moments of existence while dealing with the difficult changes brought on by the Soviet administration of the country, with their constant persecution on students, repressing protests and with a complete control of the nation through censorship and other critical politics. It's a difficult film but quite informative about this dark period in Czech history.

We follow Palach (played by Viktor Zavadil) while working on neighbor countries and having to depend on the strict control by the Communist Party in all aspects of life and work of people. He's obviously dissatisfied with everything he sees and a little before the Soviet invasion he and his colleagues were hopeful about the socialist politicans of his country who kept promising to make things better but the inevitable takes place and suddenly everybody's under a new repressive regime where freedom is not an option. Yet Palach and his college mates still keep the fight going on, they assemble and protest but nothing changes. And then came his desperate act of rebellion of which no one could avoid and no one could turn their eyes off.

This is an interesting movie dealing about a topic that is mostly known by Czech people rather than a world event about the fight against the Communism during the Cold War Era and it was fascinating to hear about a martyr of a noble cause. Zavadil is a very compelling good actor and he really nailed the exact emotions of someone struggling to accept the changes in his nation, and gradually we witness his change from someone who was happy at one time, little by little becoming more and more sad and morose with everything and everyone around him. For those who know little or nothing about the effects of Communism on Europe this is a very informative film to be seen. However, for those like me who know a great deal of historical facts about the Soviet domination in such countries the movie will sound and look redundant, repetitive, that feeling of I've seen this before and better told will stay for long periods of time and it'll be one of those things where you just wait for its conclusion because that's how we got acquainted with the man due to his ultimate fate.

And I think the film fails a little because it does not show neither presents through captions the aftermath of Palach's act and how it affected the Czech population at the time and even today since he is remembered every single year around January, due to his fight, his activism, and the public perception on him is very strong as a martyr who fought for freedom and his legacy broke out any form of censorship of then Soviet regime, his name echoes all over the European nations that fell under the USSR command. And that's important, that's historic.

Other than some minor criticisms of mine, the movie works a great deal despite some repetition in acts and sequences. But that's how life felt at the time, there wasn't much to do something different or to act and think differently than what you're told by the regime. It's a fine movie by all accounts and the lead performance makes the experience quite enjoyable despite the depressing theme. 6/10.

As one of the few films, this one also perfectly described the history of the Czech Republic. It had to be terrible to grow up at the time of the invasion of Warsaw Pact troops into Czechoslovakia, and I can hardly imagine this situation. That's why I admire Jan Palach and never forget, what he did. No one will ever forget, what he did for us.

I'm an Indian residing in Prague for 6 years. I was aware of Jan Palach in the very first week of landing in Prague. I took a walking tour of Prague old town square where the tour guide mentioned his story. Then again I was aware of Jan Palach day which happens in January. This is my first Czech movie since they screened with English subtitles. I'm A1 level in Czech language so still not very comfortable otherwise to watch without the help of subtitles. Hence avoided all these years. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Even though the overall story was known I was keen to understand what drove him, the context, the background and also his personality. I think the director has done a fantastic job to narrate the story whilst keeping the movie at a good pace, with nice subtle humour, beautiful photography especially the period costumes and cityscape. The lead actor has played the role very well. I'd highly recommend this movie to anyone who would ofcourse want to know of Jan Palach final days and more importantly the Czechoslovakia student movement during the Soviet occupation.

This film didn't resonate with me, like, at all. Might be because I'm not proud of being czech, but I just don't see the sense in what Palach did. Hundreds of people were burned alive through the history, and strangely we don't glorify their actions, so why the exception? We'd reach independence sooner or later anyway, so why should we care?

As for the technical side of things, the film was well shot, I just couldn't get myself to care. So it shouldn't be a surprise that I only liked the last 10 minutes. The burning was really well done, I can't even express how well. But that doesn't save the film.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this film unless you hold some respect for Palach's actions, which I don't.

....also, it loses a point for Palach drowning those dogs XD.