pelfad

Judie Dench gave as usual a great performance in an offbeat tale of a somewhat eccentric and outspoken high society lady who soon after her husbands death finds herself with plenty of money and time on her hands. She buys and reopens a a Vaudeville style cabaret in London's west. Bob Hoskins gives a rather odd but solid performance as the theatre manager and "Mavis" from Coronation Street pops up as Mrs Hendersons friend and confident.

The story line was interesting if not a little thin and predictable. This film is hard to place or categorise as it is part comedy part drama with a touch of the surreal.

The costumes were magnificent and I hope that for that reason, the film wins the Oscar for Costume Design!

This film was an introduction to Czech film for me whilst visiting Prague, last summer. And i have to say that I was impressed.

The best part of the film is the taxi driver, passenger and the passenger's wife...watch the film to fully understand but it was definitely one of the best "audience-knows-what is happening-but-characters -don't,scenes i have ever seen!

The film consisted of different story lines woven together, though it was hard to see the connection of some of them, especially the world-war II pilot. The cinematography and views of Prague were great and some of the small insights and details in some of the characters were universal, and therefore very recognisable. Definitely worth another viewing on DVD!

The entire cast, particularly, Vuk Kostic gave great performances that were both realistic and plausible. Most of the gangsters roles were pretty one dimensional; would have been nice to see other sides of the bullies.

Most of the reviews I had read about the film centre on whether or not it was right/ wrong for Sasa to turn chivalrous vigilante and defend his brother. his seems more in line with the culture in the Balkans where defense of honour and family are more important there than in many other parts of western Europe and the US.

Throughout most of the film I despised Igor for putting his brother through the whole experience and it was only at the end when Igor opens up to Sasa, about his experiences during the war that I begin to feel for him and understand his inability to fight back.

The choice of New Belgrade as the location was great, told a visual story about life in a part of Belgrade and could have been any concrete social housing complex in any European capital.

Definitely a film worth seeing; great acting, great plot and real drama.