Daddy (2004 Video) User Reviews

Pleasant, though a lot lost in translation

[jenny_freddie · 7/10 · 3 April 2006]

I am American who has been living in the Czech Republic for the last three years, so even though I have learned some Czech and am becoming more familiar with the culture and place, I still felt like I was an "outsider" looking in on something (but something nice!)

This film is a documentary-style look at the life of the beloved Czech actor, Jan Sverak, whom I came to know through the delightful film, Kolya. The best word I can think of for this documentary is "pleasant." It was slow at points and could have been boring (and might have been to someone with absolutely no prior knowledge of Sverak or the Czech context), but I found it enjoyable to watch because I simply like this actor as a human being. It was interesting to see his development and especially the connections between his life and Czech history. There were several points in the film where I really wasn't sure what he was talking about, but I think that some things were lost in translation--both literally and on a cultural/historical level because I have pretty limited knowledge still.

Overall, I would recommend this for people who really like Kolya or Tmavomodry Svet (Deep Blue World) and want to know more about Sverak.

Beautiful tribute to a great man of cinema and humanity

[fertilecelluloid · 8/10 · 20 May 2007]

I first discovered Zdenek Sverak's work in Jiri Menzel's wonderful "My Sweet Little Village" (1985). His love of the Czech character and facility with language gave him a singular, unique perspective. "The Elementary School" (Obecna Skola), which is available on DVD from the Czech Republic, and is based on aspects of his childhood, is one of the greatest (and most underrated) (where's the US/UK/Euro DVD, for God's sakes?) films ever made about childhood, rivaling, in my opinion, the overrated "Spirit of the Beehive", but joining the genre's masterpieces such as "Forbidden Games", "Muddy River", "Le Grand Chemin", "The Crow" (not the US action fantasy), "Leolo", and "My Life As A Dog". The film was written by Zdenek Sverac and directed by his son, Jan, whose other collaborations with his father are "Kolya", "Dark Blue World" and the recent "Empties".

"Tatinel", which means Father in Czech, is an affectionate ninety minute documentary that introduces us to Zdenek and allows us to spend some quality time with him. It's like visiting an old friend and rekindling memories. We meet many of Zdenek's old friends and collaborators and discover how these relationships have ebbed and flowed over the decades. Directors Jan Sverak and Martin Dostal incorporate scenes from older and newer Zdenek Sverak movies (home movies and early comedies), and feature lush music cues from "The Elementary School" (one cue, which plays when Zdenek and his older mates are standing in a field, is really moving).

If you don't know Sverak's movies, you certainly should, because they are a portal into a truly original world where the heart is given full flourish. Mr. Zdenek Sverak, whom I have great respect for, comes across as a vulnerable, passionate, creative guy who has made the most of his time and opportunities on Planet Earth. May he live much longer!

Great tribute to Zdenek Sverak

[martin-straka · 9/10 · 3 June 2012]

I consider Zdenek Sverak to be one of the brightest gems of Czech cultural scene. Actor, singer, author, scriptwriter...Portfolio of his activities is wide, but all of what he is doing, he is it doing great. In this long documentary (it went to theatres here in Czech Republic), he is talking about important moments and people in his life and I think that everyone who knows and likes his work will again realize what is his secret - everything he is doing, he is doing it because he wants to give people a joy. It's simple like this. In this movie, his confession is monitored by his son Jan, who was a director of Zdenek's several movies including an Academy award winning Kolya. It's clear that watching this movie makes sense only for those who knows his work, but for those of us, it is very pleasant to watch it. It is a good feeling to know that there are still people like Zdenek Sverak.