Autumn Spring

Autumn Spring
by Vladimír Michálek

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DVD Reviews of Autumn Spring

DVD Review: "Autumn" Leaves 'Em Laughing
Summary: 4 Stars

AUTUMN SPRING is a gentle comedy about one's man refusal to go gentle into that good night. A prankster, whose usually innocent practical jokes do no harm and keep the specter of debility and death at least somewhat at bay, Frantisek (Fanda) Hana does get in a bit over his head at times. When one of his jokes backfires, resulting in substantial financial loss, it strains his marriage to the more staid, long-suffering Stella. When a follow-up prank has him feigning his death and leaving Stella distraught, she feels compelled to seek divorce--after 44 years of marriage.

It's fairly easy to predict whether or not Stella will go through with the divorce. But the scene in which she reconsiders and he vows to mend his ways is so deftly acted, so understated, that its transcends cliche. Indeed everything about this movie is pitched just right. I hate to speak ill of my native land's film industry--and Hollywood CAN do some things right. But the last thing I would want to see is an American re-make of this quiet, and quietly funny little gem.

The one negative print review of this film took note that--unlike the life-affirming Fanda--the celebrated Czech actor,Vlastimil Brodsky (CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS, JACOB THE LIAR), who portrayed him committed suicide shortly after the film was completed. There is a certain irony here, but that reviewer's claim that this tragic real-life turn of events "refutes" the point of the film is, at the very least, arguable. We don't know if Fanda would ever take his own life, or under what circumstances he might. What we do know is that, for as long as he is able and alert, he will continue to live his life to the fullest, and drive all around him crazy in doing so.

Description of Autumn Spring