Domina

Typical Svoboda, whose prickle for a spineless rotten time, where crime grows into politics and the world is teeming with deviants and crooks, can be felt. Just like the attempt to film it in a modern way, according to the notes of a contemporary American detective story. But even if the shot "squares", it actually has zero benefit for the narrative - usually it's not very understandable why we have to watch the shot from two / three perspectives, when the view is not used in any way (except for the scene of revealing the driver's identity and quite elegant “placing" of information at police meetings. The script is very weak, the attempt for an open end with a bitter undertone completely fades out. The actors alternate decent moments with incomprehensible wooden declamation, which is dominated by Kňažko's theatrical performance. Although Domina tries to look realistic and harsh, the film certainly can't be watched in any way other than as an awkward conglomeration of motifs and tones. It's shot better than usual for a Czech TV thriller, but paradoxically it feels all the more helpless. (03.02.2013)