Code Name Ruby

Name: Jmeno kodu: Rubin
Genre: Drama
Released: 2013-08-27
Duration: 1 h 20 min
Rating: 5.7
Cast: Jan Potmesil, Lucie Rejchrtová, Cestmír Randa

Original title: Jmeno kodu: Rubin

1997
1h 20m

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

YOUR RATING

Drama

This controversial feature blends documentary, archival footage and fiction into an elliptical narrative in which two young people in Prague, an ancient seat for the practice of alchemy, fol... Read allThis controversial feature blends documentary, archival footage and fiction into an elliptical narrative in which two young people in Prague, an ancient seat for the practice of alchemy, follow the trail for the mystical philosopher's stone. History and future blend as brilliant ... Read allThis controversial feature blends documentary, archival footage and fiction into an elliptical narrative in which two young people in Prague, an ancient seat for the practice of alchemy, follow the trail for the mystical philosopher's stone. History and future blend as brilliant montage sequences and fanciful leaps of the imagination work to posit questions about the ... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Featured review

6/10

Highbrow occult movie

The film is available in the US under the title "Code Name: Ruby." The plot is pretty thin. An alien artifact is discovered in the opening scene, presaging the coming of a revelation. Simultaneously, the protagonists Michal and Ruby cross paths and discover progressively more of the mysterious history of Prague's alchemists.

The movie succeeds at creating a sense of paranoia greater than what is ever revealed. It's a bit like a very good Czech "X Files". The love story is cute, as the actors are engaging, but an equal amount of time is spent on some inventive cinematography. It's not groundbreaking but it is interesting enough.

In some ways the film reminds me of "La Jetee". It has the paranoia inducing story, and a similar attention to cinematography. And it is short - 80 minutes. The soundtrack, from Jan Hammer, works very well, and is worthy of mention. It is evocative of church organ music, which fits well with some of the Gothic atmosphere of Prague and the mysterious secrets the protagonists pursue.