The Criterion Collection

I was born behind the Iron Curtain four decades ago and I was sure I did not miss any good Soviet film made after the Second World War, but the irony is that I can recall reading the short story by Valery Ossipov but I've never seen the film until I got the Criterion Collection release. I knew Kalatozov from Cranes Are Flying (Letyat Juravly), but this little movie left me speechless, astonishing cinematography by Urusevski vividly depicting the vastness of Siberia.

Well, it doesn't have a lot in common with the spirit of the book by Kundera but in its own right it is a great piece of art.

Somber adaption of the novel by the same name by Kundera, faithfull to the book. Also a very good movie.

The biggest surprise for me in the box set Pearls of the Czech New Wave. Incredible, irreverent and hypnotic. Also recommend the great short by Chytilova in the omnibus movie Pearls of the Deep in the same Eclipse set.

Always have a soft spot for Menzel. My Sweet Little Village and Larks on a String are great movies. But probably his best is Ostře sledované vlaky released by Criterion.