The Film:
Although I have a very wide taste in films and see a lot of them from all over the world, I can only remember ever seeing one Czech film, the bizarre comical horrorfest Choking Hazard. Well, I am happy to report that after watching Post Coitum, my relationship with Czech cinema stays a promising one. Directed by Juraj Jakubisko, Post Coitum follows a group of people of differing ages and backgrounds and how they are unknowingly connected to each other through meaningless sex and unorthadox relationships. Best known in the cast (to me, the only known) is Franco Nero who continues to star in low budget independent films, despite being good enough (and well known enough) to be in bigger films. He plays photographer Bakchus who has strong family values but believes in having casual sex as long as a picture of his wife is looking on. Lucie Vondrácková plays Katryna, a girl who has had her heart broken on more than one occasion by instantly falling in love with men who she finds out, after doing the deed, are married. The final notable person is Jarousek, who is played by JaromÃr Nosek, a married man whose wife, on appearance, hates him because of his kindness. These are the three strongest characters in a film of many, and with that comes a good little film.
There are so many things to like about this film. The character development is great and all the actors carry their roles wonderfully, but it's the direction and the plot that really astounded me here. During the first half hour or so, you struggle to keep up with the story and wonder where it's going, but as the plot progresses deeper and the characters start to meet each other, it really just grabs you and pulls you in. Based on the story by Marcel Bystron, Juraj Jakubisko has done a great job in bringing it to the big screen whilst at the same time adding his own flair to the proceedings giving it a very polished feel. For me this film comes recommended, and I fully intend to check out Bathory which reunites the director with the majority of the cast.
Picture:
Arrow Films have presented us with the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1. It's a very nice print and is free of any major problems though there is a little dirt here and there. Colours seem to be well defined especially during the scenes which take place in dark and grimy settings such as toilets and a warehouse. All in all, the picture is of great quality although not quite reference material. Subtitles have been provided in English (optional) and they are pretty much perfect.
Audio:
Arrow have provided us with a Czech Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround track and there is certainly no need to be disappointed. Dialogue is clear at all times (as in I could hear them - don't understand Czech) and music levels consistent throughout. The film is mainly dialogue driven but there are a few fantasy scenes of a car blowing up or a shooting which would have definately benefited from the use of a 5.1 track. The track we have got though, does what it needs to.
Extras:
None
