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I have heard a comparison of Walking Too Fast with The Lives of Others and that this middle-aged secret police crisis is more believable, intense, and (not only) because of that, much better. I see it exactly the opposite. The German film successfully conveys the bitter experience of the secret police in a communist dictatorship to the whole world. Of course, it is fictional, but it does not go into details that would compromise it with its mismanagement - and above all, it maintains a high level of artistry at all levels. It tells the story through visuals, and for maximum emotional impact, all it takes is the camera's gaze into the eyes of the characters and the revelation of the human character is achieved with a small remark or gesture of the given character. In contrast, Walking Too Fast takes on the unfortunate tradition of Czech television dramas, which at times becomes absurd. The dialogue smoothly transitions into soliloquy and when the words run out, the voice of the narrator is heard from above. Walking Too Fast is instructive, and it is very noticeable how much the screenwriter and director want to semaphorically tell the viewers what to think. Truly good films of international standard can masterfully increase tension by leaving their audience in uncertainty. In Burnt by the Sun, Michalkov portrays the meeting of two old friends and gradually introduces dark tones into the story - but for a long time, he does not reveal which scene the blow will come from. Radim Špaček fails in this aspect. Antonín's colleague has to be portrayed as an exemplary fool, his female colleague is an excellent whore, and he himself, as the "best employee in the department," has the charisma and social intelligence equivalent to that of the oak barn doors. From several scenes, it follows that the creators clearly do not understand the reality of a period that was only 30 years ago. Just as an example, the official threatens the crane operator, when she catches her smoking, that she will immediately get fired. At the same time, there is a desperate lack of people in this unattractive profession on the deformed and practically non-existent job market. What would happen then? Another dormitory will come, where a few pictures from a magazine will be stuck on the wall, and you will get used to a different pub. I remember that in the '80s, we had a crane operator who was a heavy alcoholic, and we could not find a replacement for her. One day, she simply fell from the crane straight onto her head. Blackmailing someone professionally was possible with intellectuals, while for others, it could be done through their children or through the travel restriction clause. Nevertheless, the famous Czech secret police was short-lived for many people. Besides, for the majority of society, the secret police did not represent any specific threat. They were able to move very well within the allowed constraints of the society of that time. It is good to realize that today's average employer, not to mention a specialized company, has more possibilities for surveillance and control of citizens than the famous secret police ever had. They were limited by budget and, above all, by technology. Today, people reveal more about themselves on Facebook than the StB apparatus was capable of processing. But not to criticize only, within the framework of the films about the clumsy Czech effort of "coming to terms with the past," despite all the reservations mentioned above, Walking Too Fast is one the better ones. The film works not as a picture of the past (although some scenes capture it well, such as when the "mighty" secret police eat standing up in a shabby, inhospitable canteen), but rather as a study of the disintegration of the human personality, with an unfamiliar and interesting performance by Ondřej Malý in the lead role. Kristína Farkašová's character also radiates a similar charisma. If there were a film industry in the Czech Republic that worked with talent, both actors would become at least regional stars. All in all, it earns a respectable 3 stars and a 65% overall impression. (10.03.2013) (mniej) (więcej)