UncleG

This humorous puppet-movie is divided into four episodes (tales). All the original tales were written by one author - Jan Werich, but each tale was filmed by another director. Balej and Klimt represent the "greenhorns" of Czech animation, Pojar and Pospisilova are the "vets" here. Interesting fact is, that there is a huge difference in work of the older directors and the younger ones. The Czech animation veterans made brilliant and juicy stories, whereas the young directors tried to bore us almost to death.

My favorite story is "Palecek" - directed by Mr.Pojar, art-concept masterfully made by Czech artist Pavel Koutsky. This story has wonderful sense of humor, funny 2D sequences, lot of wise crack and everything works together. If you want a real laugh, wait for this episode! 10/10

"Tri sestry a jeden prsten" - made by Mrs.Pospisilova has also absolutely delightful artistic concept (the artist - Petr Pos is well known from short film "Az opada listi z dubu", which was a part of Fimfarum 1). The story is well focused on the point. Juicy and funny... It's the traditional old school of Czech animation. 9/10

"More, strycku, proc je slane?" has a good atmosphere, but the story is filmed at an average. I personally dislike the puppets from this film - they all have silly faces, every figure looks like an idiot. Those "idiotic" puppets were made by the director himself. Balej wants to be funny at all cost, but I'm more or less immune to his attempts for a joke... 5/10

Klimt's film "Hrbaci z Damasku" looks like it was made under the time pressure. The main humorous point is completely lost (why???), the story is long, boring and lacks ending. The end of this film feels like the story was longer, but the end was lost somewhere in the cutting room. I like the art work of Martin Velisek, but this time it was a bit shoddy. For example: the desert town is just one big house, no people in the streets, no camels or other animals, no extra puppets. Klimt's and Velisek's cooperation has much better result in Fimfarum 1. 5/10

Conclusion: Pojar's and Pospisilova's stories are absolutely brilliant (both veteran directors have more humor and juice than the younger ones).

7/10

Alfred Bartos, the leader of the Czech paratroopers, one of the main characters in Operation Silver A is characterized in this movie like a disgusting drunkard, messing with all the women in the story (including wife of the man, who is actually hiding him from the Nazis!). In fact, he was described by his real life co-troopers like a man of honor, knowing the Operation means a certain death to him. One of his war-friends wrote that the Czech paratroopers were ready to die for him in the combat!

Look, I don't like deificiation of the heroes, but looking at the problem with sober eyes...This movie stinks! And it stinks a lot! It is based on a true story, but it has nothing to do with the truth. All the paratroopers (hidden within the Protectorate) are acting like morons, which behavior would lead to their immediate revelation. No one believes, that the Allies would send an old drunk as a leader of such important mission. Also the members of secret resistance are sometimes very unreasonable. The scene, where the resistance members are talking about their activities with other people in the street, looks like it has been removed from a parody. Also the paratroopers would never do anything that could bring their helpers to any problem (a problem with paratroopers meant death).

This war movie describes the real war analogous to the "'Allo 'allo" serial. But the "Silver A" dramatization is dangerous, because the story pretends to be true.

You may find Strach's "Silver A" interesting, only if you imagine the secret resistance members like people who in general say: Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once...

The unusually enjoyable story (about a pauper messing with devils) seems to be located somewhere in late baroque times and it's not just a particular love story. It's very funny indeed, but also deeper thoughts can be revealed behind the lines. The creators keep questioning about the power of money. And the human society is sometimes more evil then the Hell itself. But don't worry, you don't have to think about the hidden meanings if you don't want to – this film was made mainly for entertainment.

The creators also designed a completely new view at the hell, its rules and its hierarchy. The conception of the love story is unusual as well. How many fairly tales with a love-triangle do you know? If you are expecting more than just an ordinary tale, you want to have fun and maybe something more, you are at the right address.

I don't like giving 1 or 10 stars, but this particular piece deserves 10, no question about it.