Walking Too Fast Explained

Walking Too Fast
Native Name:
Language:Czech
Pouta
Director:Radim Špaček
Producer:Vratislav Šlajer
Starring:Ondřej Malý
Music:Tomáš Vtípil
Cinematography:Jaromír Kačer
Editing:Anna Ryndová
Studio:Bionaut Films
Ceská Televize
ALEF Film & Media Group
Universal Production Partners
Film Studio Gatteo (co-production)Soundsquare
Distributor:Bontonfilm
Runtime:146 minutes
Language:Czech
Budget:15,000,000 Kč[1]
Gross:$71,105[2]

Walking Too Fast (Czech: Pouta, literally handcuffs or bonds) is a Czech thriller and drama film directed by Radim Špaček. It was released in 2010. It is a psychological story about relations between the secret police (StB) and the dissident movement, set in communist Czechoslovakia in the 1980s. The film was likened to the German film The Lives of Others.

Walking Too Fast is described as a dark thriller with an unpredictable protagonist who becomes dangerous to all people around including himself. His way to reach the goal is self-destructive.

Plot

The story revolves around Antonín Rusnák who is an StB agent. He feels rage towards the world. He feels sick and bored from his family and work. His psychological issues cause him breathing problems and his doctor advises him to breathe into a bag if he gets a fit.

Antonín and his partner Martin surveil Tomáš and Pavel. They are both dissidents but Pavel is also collaborating with Antonín and Martin. Antonín finds out that Tomáš, who is married, has a lover, Klára. Antonín becomes interested in her. He secretly follows her and uses his authority to protect her. He beats up a guy who bothers her or prevents her boss from firing her because of her links to the dissidents. He also pushes Tomáš to leave the country to get rid of him. He beats him up during interrogations and reveals his affair to his family and Tomáš finally decides to leave Czechoslovakia.

Antonín forces Pavel to arrange a meeting with Klára in exchange for seeing his file. Pavel then meets Antonín's partner Martin in order to reveal the agreement he made with Antonín. Martin states that Antonín is done at StB but doesn't know that Antonín is aware of their meeting and lures Martin to the woods where he attacks him and threatens him with a gun. Martin begs him for his life and Antonín handcuffs him to a tree.

Antonín and Klára meet in Pavel's apartment. The meeting doesn't end well and Antonín gets a fit so he breathes into the bag which makes Klára realize that Antonín is the agent who terrorized Tomáš. He tells her that he followed her and she admits that she felt as if somebody was watching her for a long time. Antonín reveals his name and she says that he has to stop watching her.

Klára leaves the apartment but writes a message for Pavel on the Wall - "Svině" (Swine). Klára goes Home and meets the ambulance that takes her pregnant Friend Darina to the Hospital. She gets on the ambulance but looks around if anybody watches her. The film ends with Antonín waking up at the lakeside. The audience can now hear his thoughts as he enters the lake and goes deeper and deeper. He thinks about who he was and hopes that Klára will remember his name. In the end he states "It is beautiful here" as he kills himself.

Cast

Production

The film was inspired by 1995's Casino. Screenwriter Ondřej Štindl decided to make a similar story that would replace mobsters with agents of Communist State Security.[5] [6] The first version of screenwriting was made in 2002. Actors for the film were chosen in casting that took 18 months.

Shooting started in December 2008 and concluded in the summer of 2009. The film was shot in Prague, Ostrava and Bratislava.[7] Post-production concluded in December 2009.[8]

Release

The film premiered on 4 February 2010.[9] The film returned to cinemas on 3 March 2011 as a reaction to its success at the Czech Lion Awards.[10]

Awards

The film received 13 nominations for the Czech Lion. It won five of them - Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Actor in Leading Role. The film also received the Film Critics' Award.

Walking Too Fast also succeeded at the Czech Film Critics' Awards. The film won awards in five categories - Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor in Leading Role and RWE Award.

Reception

The film has won universal acclaim from critics in the Czech Republic. Out of all Czech films Walking too fast is number one on Czech movie aggregator Kinobox.cz where it holds 87% from critics.[11] [12] František Fuka considers it to be the best Czech film in the few last years if not the best since the Velvet revolution. The film holds 74% on Czech-Slovak Film Database.[13]

Reviews

Accolades

Date of ceremonyAwardCategoryRecipient(s)Result
2010Finále Plzeň Film FestivalGolden Kingfisher for the Best FilmRadim Špaček[19] [20]
Golden Kingfisher for the Best ActorOndřej Malý
Special RecognitionRadim Špaček
Warsaw International Film FestivalBest FilmBionaut Films[21]
2011Czech Film Critics' AwardsBest FilmBionaut Films[22]
Best DirectorRadim Špaček
Best CinematographyJaromír Kačer
Best ScreenplayOndřej Štindl
Best Original SoundtrackTomáš Vtípil
Best Actor in Leading RoleOndřej Malý
RWE AwardOndřej Malý
Czech Lion AwardsBest FilmRadim Špaček[23]
Best DirectorRadim Špaček
Best ScreenplayOndřej Štindl
Best Supporting ActressKristína Farkašová
Best Actress in a Leading RoleBarbora Milotová
Best Actor in Leading RoleOndřej Malý
Best Supporting ActorLukáš Latinák
Oldřich Kaiser
Best CinematographyJaromír Kačer
Best MusicTomáš Vtípil
Best EditingAnna Johnson Ryndová
Best SoundJakub Čech, Marek Hart
Best DesignPavol Andraško
Film Critics and Theoretics Award for the Best FilmRadim Špaček
Trilobit AwardsBest filmRadim Špaček[24]

International festivals

The film was shown at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Warsaw International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, East European Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bláhová. Jindřiška. Druhého Vejdělka nebo Svěráka český filmový trh nepotřebuje, říká producent Pout. 25 August 2016. cs. 14 December 2011.
  2. Web site: 2010 Czech Republic Yearly Box Office Results. boxofficemojo.com. 28 August 2016.
  3. Web site: Pouta Pouta recenzia Feeling Movies. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110121175818/http://www.feelingmovies.sk/2010/pouta/6503 . 2011-01-21 .
  4. http://kostlan.blog.respekt.ihned.cz/c1-45951550-pouta-jako-estebacka-lovestory Czech
  5. Web site: Foll . Jan . Pozoruhodné retro Radima Špačka Pouta vypráví o normalizačním dusnu . Hospodářské noviny . 9 September 2018 . cs. 4 February 2010.
  6. Web site: Jáchym . Topol. Vítězství páchnoucího filmu . Lidovky.cz . 9 September 2018 . cs . 5 February 2010.
  7. Web site: Press: Nový film Radima Špačka - Pouta . fdb.cz . 9 September 2018 . cs.
  8. News: Podskalská . Jana . Pouta: Radim Špaček vypráví příběh moci . Deník.cz . 9 September 2018 . cs . 11 December 2009.
  9. Web site: Jaroslav . Sedláček . Retro recenze: Pouta - nejlepší porevoluční český thriller, který jste nikdy neviděli . Kinobox.cz . 12 February 2019 . 29 October 2023 . cs.
  10. Web site: Pouta se vracejí do kin! . Kinobox.cz . 9 September 2018 . cs.
  11. Web site: Nejlepší český film podle kritiků za posledních 10 let? Nejvíce zaujal psychopatický totalitní policajt. Kinobox.cz. 4 March 2018. cs.
  12. Web site: Nejlepší české filmy podle hodnocení kritiků.
  13. Web site: Pouta (2009).
  14. Web site: Kamil . Fila . Recenze: Pouta mají zpřetrhané vazby na všechno. cs. aktualne.cz. 5 February 2010. 29 October 2023.
  15. Web site: Kamila. Boháčková. Proč jsou Pouta český film dekády. cs. advojka.cz. 2010. 29 October 2023.
  16. Web site: Jan. Gregor. Pod okem orla. subscription. cs. Respekt. 31 January 2010. 29 October 2023.
  17. Web site: Pouta: Recenze. moviezone.cz. 26 January 2010. 29 October 2023.
  18. Web site: Recenze: Pouta - 100%. cs. 11 January 2010. 29 October 2023.
  19. Web site: Veronika. Zýková. Festival českých filmů Finále 2010 den po dni. 25fps. 25 April 2010. 20 August 2017.
  20. Web site: Kdo si na letošním Finále uloví Zlatého ledňáčka?. topzine.cz. 14 April 2010. 20 August 2017. cs.
  21. Web site: Film Pouta bude soutěžit ve Varšavě . Lidovky.cz . 6 November 2019 . cs . 23 September 2010.
  22. Web site: Ceny české filmové kritiky 2010. filmovakritika.cz. 29 October 2023.
  23. Web site: Český lev / 2010. filmovaakademie.cz. 29 October 2023.
  24. Web site: FITES ocenil estébácká Pouta i festival Jeden svět. Aktuálně.cz. 21 April 2018. cs. 29 January 2011.