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Regie:
Jiří MádlScenario:
Jiří MádlCamera:
Martin ŽiaranMuziek:
Simon GoffActeurs:
Vojtěch Vodochodský, Táňa Pauhofová, Stanislav Majer, Vojtěch Kotek, Martin Hofmann, Tomáš Maštalír, Igor Bareš, Marika Šoposká, Petr Lněnička (meer)Samenvattingen(1)
One might think that Czech and Slovak filmmakers have already said all there is to say about the period around 1968 in Czechoslovak history. As Jiří Mádl’s outing shows, however, this crucial era in our modern history still has forgotten stories to offer that are worthy of our attention. The film revolves around the international news office at Czechoslovak Radio, a place full of talented individuals possessing broad insight, linguistic skills, and above all a commitment to honest journalistic work with a focus on the truth. An epic, dynamically shot, rewarding film, which embraces uncommon heroism in the face of an oppressive regime, the strength of fraternal ties, and the eternal themes of love, betrayal, morality, and hope. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)
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Recensie (8)
I caught Waves during the third screening at the summer cinema, and it was still completely packed. That’s how much this film has resonated with the Czech nation. And honestly, it’s well-deserved. After so many years, here’s a movie that tackles an important topic in a quality and engaging way—something everyone should know about, especially the younger generations who need to remember what happened around 1968. With his third film, Jiří Mádl has truly cemented his talent, and I was captivated for over two hours, subconsciously applauding. Waves is a big film, not just in quality but in content. It’s written with a strong emphasis on objectivity and features some of the top Czech actors of today. There isn’t just one main hero here; the film portrays multiple characters whose actions are both black and white, deeply influenced by the times they lived in. It’s hard to blame them for the choices they made. The Czechoslovak Radio of that era definitely deserved a film like this.
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At this year's KVIFF, I tried twice – and in vain – to get into one of the most talked about films of the year, so I had to wait for Waves to “crash” into the theater. Jiří Mádl's film excellently combines the lesser-known story of Czechoslovak Radio journalists with an execution that can satisfy a wide audience. The inserted period songs give Waves a touching period feel, while the play with images, archival footage and filters elevates the film to a high technical level. However, Waves wouldn't have resonated as much as it did if it weren't for the excellent casting. The story itself, about trying to resist and fight against a lying and oppressive regime, is timeless and very relevant at the moment – in this regard, these Waves arrive at the most opportune time and definitely deserve both thumbs up.
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Jiří Mádl has managed to do something that is hard to see in contemporary Czech cinema, he made a film of European quality. He tells a story that, without any pathos and black and white, works well as a historical account, but also as a parallel to the present time and recent events elsewhere. The 130 minutes pass like water and the film resonates nicely after the end, as confirmed by the huge audience applause at this year's premiere in the Great Hall. [KVIFF 2024]
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Mádl has truly leveled up his directing game. Sure, the theme has been explored countless times, and for Czechs, it’ll always be a sensitive subject. But the way he pieced together this 131-minute story, perfectly paired it with music, and thoughtfully reminded us that nothing is ever black and white—especially in this context—without falling into the trap of sentimentality? Wow. In the festival setting, it's a five-star experience (but otherwise, a slightly more sober 85%).
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Of all of Jiří Mádl’s directorial efforts, which so far have always exhibited rather striking naïveté and unbelievability, Waves is by far the best. Among other things, that is because it does not suffer from the ills of his previous films. It is superbly prepared in dramaturgical terms and its carefully structured narrative seamlessly combines a very large number of story lines. The film is an example of top-rate craftsmanship in every respect, whether that refers to the period stylisation, costumes, acting or music. Thanks in particular to the driving music, dynamic editing and feel for building suspense, the scenes involving a clash between the police and student demonstrators, the arrival of tanks in Prague in August 1968 and the military assault on the Czech Radio building are comparable to many Hollywood action thrillers due to their intensity and spectacular execution. In the numerous well-written and varied supporting characters based on real journalists and reporters from the Editorial Office of International Life, who struggled with censorship during the Prague Spring and strived at all costs to keep broadcasting during the invasion, the prevailing feature is absolute clarity, in both their emotions and motivations. This important story deserved an honest, sophisticated and first-class treatment, so it is extremely pleasing that Waves ranks among the best in the context of contemporary Czech films.
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