Dir: Vojtech Strakaty | Drama Czech 90’
A coming of age meets female empowerment drama sees a young girl forced to grow up pronto when her debt ridden father has a major financial crisis affecting the whole family. .
Carefree JINDŘIŠKA (23) is like any other teenager, throwing up the morning after an alcohol fuelled party the night before.
But she sobers up pretty quickly when the bailiffs arrive to empty the squeaky clean family home of all possessions – including an IKEA lamp – and blocking the credit cards.
In an instant Jindřiška’s world falls apart, forcing her to choose between helping her father or saving herself before it’s too late. The rest of the family are unhelpful. It appears they are owed money too. In the street Jindriska and her friend are then intimated by another debtor
Set in the serene Czech countryside this crisp and straightforwardly mature film is Vojtech Strakaty’s feature debut – a relatable drama that deals with an issue that other filmmakers have failed to tackle since Ramon Bahrani in his 2014 finicial thriller 99 Homes but one that resonates with a wide audience in today’s debt ridden world.
Doing the rounds with her father to rustle up money it emerges that Jindriska could raise a loan to help the family although she only has a part time job so it would be a drop in the ocean.
Eliska Basusová is convincing as a disdainful daughter gradually realising her rather profligate is no longer the man she thought he was, and is shifting his responsibility onto her young shoulders – and what’s worse – his arrogant cavalier attitude makes her feel justifiably uncomfortable and leaves her on the horns of a dilemma. But the narrative loses power in the final stretch which sees the girl cutting lose and focusing on her friends and freedom. Despite a rather enigmatic ending this is a nice-looking watchable film from the Czech newcomer, making its world premiere in the Orrizonti Extra strand at the 81st Venice Film Festival. @MeredithTaylor
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