Watch Pelíšky For Free

One of my all time favorites.

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Best movie ever!

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The film Cosy Dens focuses on three families living in Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring, a time when the country was much less influenced by Communism than it had been before or after. However, despite the political backdrop, the threat of Communism and the fact that this more liberal society is only temporary does not play a major role in the narrative. The primary events of the film follow typical families of the period without dwelling too much on Czech society as a whole. The movie shares similarities to Christmas movies in American cinema. In visual style the movie looks a lot like A Christmas Story. Both films make use of an idealized looking past where everything has this gold-tinted lighting and everyone wears pristine versions of the clothes that existed at the time. In contrast to this romanticized version of the past, there is the more chaotic element of family drama. This is common in holiday movies and uses the cynical subversion of Christmas being the "happiest time of the year" to derive much of the humor. The film shows Michal's sister receiving a cross bow which is similar to the BB gun in A Christmas Story, and the overall demeanor of Michal's father is similar the "The Old Man" in that they both act like they are the all-knowing patriarchs of the their family when in fact they are both bumbling idiots in actual practice. There's also an interesting moment that parallels Home Alone where a character lights the top of his head of fire. This may or may not have been a deliberate reference but it is a very specific thing that happens in both films and would be an odd coincidence if it was not intentional. Cosy Dens is a slice of life movie, so there is very little plot. The teenage character of Michal has a crush on his neighbor Jindriska, who begins dating Elien. Michal's infatuation drives many of his actions that propel the story. Jindriska and Michal's parents represent the opposing ideologies of the Prague Spring. Mr. Kraus (Jindriska's father) is strongly opposed to the Communists, while Mr. Sebek (Michal's father) is a Communist soldier. As neighbors Kraus and Sebek often interact with each other, but resent each other because of their opposing ideologies and differing personalities. This dynamic represent something interesting about Cosy Dens. Many aspects of the movie work as both a simple coming of age story and as a microcosm for Czech politics at the time. For example, the character of Elien is a mod that is interested in the British subcultures that were emerging at this time. Within the movie's plot he is a romantic rival to Michal, and in the larger context of Czech society he represents the influx of Western democratic ideas and culture that define the Prague Spring. The idea behind subcultures whether mod, hippie, or any other is the rejection of mainstream culture and the society it represents. This glorification of individuality is in stark contrast to the ideas of societal unity that Communist like Sabek believe. Elien even showed American films, directly spreading that culture to the people in his community. Sabek's Communist allegiance is manifested in his glorification of new technology created by other Communists such as the "unbreakable" plastic cups, and much like the idea of Soviet Communism, the notion that the cups are unbreakable does not hold up to scrutiny. The death of Kraus's wife somewhat foreshadows and parallels the Russian invasion in that many of the things he cares about, his wife and his ideology, are not going to be a comfort to him forever, and in fact he is the one that is most upset when the invasion occurs. Outside of relationships that represent the political atmosphere of the time, there are also typical family relationships that do not seem to represent anything else. The relationship between Michal and his father is strained because they have different interest. Michal is disinterested in his father political obsessions and Mr. Sebek thinks his son's interests are going to turn him into a degenerate. Similarly, Jindriska's father thinks she is a failure because she doesn't want to practice playing the piano and doesn't share his passion for having all the skills he takes so much pride in, while she shares a closer relationship in her more accepting mother. Sebek's relationship with his brother is competitive, almost to an unhealthy level, and he goes out of his way to impress him. These interactions seem to represent a fairly realistic family dynamic that is influenced by a generation gap and the stress of entertaining a large group of people over the holidays. The film culminates in the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, ending the Prague Spring, but, except for Mr. Kraus's strong anti-Communist patriotism, the movie has very little to do with politics directly, especially if the viewer unfamiliar with the events. First and foremost it is a movie about family relationships. This makes the vast majority of the movie very accessible and watchable for everyone. However, the ending does not seem like an appropriate conclusion to this mostly universal story. It is very specifically about the end of the Prague Spring. The entire movie does deal with the Prague Spring, but it is handled in a much more subtle way, using characters to represent the political tension. The invasion was a national event, whereas the rest of the movie is more personal and focused entirely on the lives of a few people. Even when these people have ideologies that are nationally based (anti/pro-Communism,) they express these ideas in the way they interact with their family and friends. The invasion is impersonal and largely irrelevant to everything that happens up until that point. It would be more satisfying if there was a conclusion that only effected the characters and the world that had been shown up until that point.

Cosy Dens (1999) is the ironic name given to the film that was called Pelísky in Czech. The movie was directed by Jan Hrebejk. Two families are celebrating Christmas in the same apartment house during the Prague Spring. The father of one family is patriotic and anti-Russian. The father of the other is an army officer, and pro-Russian. The basic plot revolves around the relationships between these families. Clearly, the families symbolize two aspects of Czech society in 1968--some refused to accept the Soviet occupation, and denounced it when they could. Others turned the occupation to their advantage.The movie has several plot threads. The two fathers argue constantly. The young son of one family loves the daughter of the other. (It's not Romeo and Juliet--his love is unrequited.) An aunt hopes to find a husband, but her son and her bad luck get in the way.It's interesting that even the army officer's family celebrate with a traditional Christmas. It's very interesting--at least to a non-Czech--that the families keep a live carp in the bathtub, which is apparently a traditional aspect of the Czech Christmas.The film is not just a comedy. It is a symbolic representation of the tensions of the Czech people, who must adapt to the fact that Russia controls their destiny. They don't know--but we know--that the Prague Spring will come to an end not through liberation, but through the roar of the Warsaw Pact tanks rolling through Prague.There's a long shot of birds in a cage near the end. The presenter of the film made the symbolism clear. The birds have enough food and water to survive, but the central fact of their existence--like that of the Czechs--is that they are not free.Seen as part of the outstanding Alan Lutkus International Film Series at SUNY Geneseo. The film is on DVD, and was projected onto the large screen. It will work on the small screen as well.

This is genuinely one of the best films I have ever seen - Hrebejk at his absolute best.Firstly, it has so many typically Hrebejk touching moments (in fact I felt quite teary for a lot of it), mostly because of the historical background it is set in, but also because of the emotional and sometimes painful ways that the characters interact. Although several of the characters are extremely difficult people, you do sympathise with them.However, secondly, what makes this film so special is that is is genuinely hilarious as well. People had warned me beforehand that the humour was very "Czech" and that does not necessarily translate that well. However, I would say this is totally wrong. This film has so many funny parts that there is something for everyone, both black comedy and outright slapstick; for a week I laughed about the scene with the carp in the bath.I highly recommend this film; some knowledge of recent Czech history is useful.

Watching this movie at the Wellington International Film Festival, surrounded by emotional ex-patriot Czechs is an experience I will always remember and treasure.The film details life during the Prague Spring, leading up to the Russian invasion. The humor is very Czech, and splendidly so. The ending reminded me of exactly why the Politician is the lowest form of life on the planet.Go see this movie wherever and whenever you can.