Os Amores de uma Loira

"Loves of A Blonde" is a catchy, racy title for what is actually a gentle,low-key and affectionate look at a love affair in communist Czechoslovakia in the mid-60's. The film concerns a young (yes, blonde)girl who seems to be the prettiest one working in what looks like an extremely bleak factory setting in northern Czechoslovakia. The female workers in this shoe factory seem to far outnumber the males of the town. A band travels through town to play at a weekend dance, and the titled blonde (maybe its just me, but I think she resembles Reese Witherspoon a lot at various times)takes up with the piano player. Complications ensue.

There are a number of sweetly comic moments in the film, and it has a great deal of affection for its various characters. Its not all laughs, though, as there is a melancholy undertow to all that goes on. The portrait of Czech society seems decidedly bleak...ugly towns, dreary jobs, precious little fun. The ending is rather ambiguous, but I felt it to be definitely more downbeat than upbeat. You smile, but I felt sad afterward - a feeling rather common after a youthful love affair, I suppose.

I don't think I've ever seen a movie that so faithfully captured the sense of place. I spent many months in the mid-60's in Czechoslovakia and Eastern Europe, and when I recently saw this film, it brought tears of nostalgia to my eyes. The scene in the parents' house, when the family was faced with the arrival of the unexpected stranger, is documentary in its portrayal of how a household would look in those times, complete to the smallest details of housekeeping and behavior. It is light-hearted without being slapstick, and it is poignant without being corny. Every character is right on the mark. On my very very short list of the greatest movies ever. In short, it is perfect. See this film, and take the whole family.

This is the second of Forman's Czech films I've watched after the other Criterion release, THE FIREMAN'S BALL (1967) - though that was via a late-night Italian TV broadcast some years ago; these two films constitute his most celebrated work from this early phase in his career.

While a pleasant and sharply-observed comedy-drama in itself, which must have seemed fresh at the time (particularly the intimate detail of its teenage romance), I feel that a lot of these unassuming but critically-acclaimed foreign films - often made under strained political conditions - tend to come off as overrated when viewed today (a similar recent example I encountered was CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS [1966]). That said, the film benefits immensely from the wonderful cinematography by Miroslav Ondricek (Forman's longtime collaborator).

Besides, it also includes a couple of lengthy - and delightful - set-pieces: the party sequence, in which the heroine and her two best friends are picked up by a trio of geeky middle-aged soldiers; the scene at the home of the girl's 'boyfriend' (with whom she had a one-night stand), where she causes a commotion by turning up unannounced on his doorstep with a packed suitcase!

The DVD supplements comprise an amusing but irrelevant deleted scene, and an interesting 17-minute interview with Forman - in which he discusses the film's genesis and how the mix of professional and untrained actors proved providential, sealing its essential charm.

I hadn't seen any of Milos Forman's work before I saw this, and it really surprised me (pleasantly). It was a really funny film, with clever characters, very realistic interactions and some surprisingly cheeseless slapstick moments. Also has a movingly downbeat finale.

I doubt many people will make the effort to watch a little known black and white Czech film from the 60s, but those that do will be rewarded.

Part of what was known as the Czech New Wave in the 1960s and this particular title a great favourite of Film clubs and societies back in my younger days. Director Milos Foreman, of course, left what is now known as the Czech Republic for the US where he made films as diverse as The People vs Larry Flynt, Amadeus and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Before leaving he mad a trio of film in his native country of which this is probably the best although his similar and later film The Firemen's Ball had, perhaps even greater impact internationally being in colour. For A Blonde in Love Foreman uses mostly local people from the village where he shot with, I believe, only one professional actor who it turns out was as influenced by the non actors as there were by him. The young blonde of the title was the sister of the director's wife and gives a wonderful performance. Indeed the whole piece, barely a story, is a joy to watch despite the cringe worthy moments, on the dance floor in particular. A warm and caring film that is beautifully shot and despite an obvious air of austerity throughout still managing to convey a feeling of positivity. Lovely.