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• Behind The Scenes Featurette
- Czech Audio with English Subtitles
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
`Kolya' is a refreshing, warm and thoughtful film guaranteed to entertain throughout. It's as capable of making you cry just as easily as it will have you laughing out loud at its many humorous moments - and that's not a bad combination for any movie to have! Louka (Zdenek Sverak) is 55 and leads a carefree life in Soviet occupied Czechoslovakia. He enjoys his fair share of socialising and womanising. He can to indulge in his other love - music - due to being a concert cellist. But an unexpected series of events cause his life to change dramatically leaving him exposed to deal with many new emotions he has carefully managed to avoid. After losing his place in the prestigious state orchestra Louka falls heavily in debt. Barely making ends meet playing weddings and funerals a friend suggests marrying a Russian woman in a marriage of convenience. She will get her residence papers and he will get a cash sum. Reluctantly the confirmed bachelor goes ahead with the scam - after all what could possibly go wrong? He soon finds out which is when this gem of a film really takes off...
Louka's new bride promptly runs away to the West leaving her 5 year old son Kolya with her grandmother. Unfortunately when the old lady dies Kolya has only one next of kin he can turn to - his new `stepfather' Louka. It would be easy for the film to slip into the obvious formula of two mismatched people forced to live together only to find that they like each other. `Kolya' manages to liven this much worn formula by avoiding overly predictable cliches, having an excellent script and a superb cast that are believable. We are left with a truly unusual and magical relationship that is strained, realistic, hilarious and emotional - the fact that neither can speak the other's language adds much spice to their difficult situation. Director (Jan Sverak) allows the grumpy, stubborn old man and the innocent young boy (superbly played by Andrej Chalimon) to develop their characters and their bond in a way that completely captures our attention...and hearts. This wonderful piece of cinema deservedly won an Oscar for `Best Foreign Language Film' and scooped many other awards Worldwide.
I was hooked by this treasure of a film and loved every special moment it provides - and there are many. A big thumbs up from me and thoroughly recommended - you wont be disappointed.
Louka's new bride promptly runs away to the West leaving her 5 year old son Kolya with her grandmother. Unfortunately when the old lady dies Kolya has only one next of kin he can turn to - his new `stepfather' Louka. It would be easy for the film to slip into the obvious formula of two mismatched people forced to live together only to find that they like each other. `Kolya' manages to liven this much worn formula by avoiding overly predictable cliches, having an excellent script and a superb cast that are believable. We are left with a truly unusual and magical relationship that is strained, realistic, hilarious and emotional - the fact that neither can speak the other's language adds much spice to their difficult situation. Director (Jan Sverak) allows the grumpy, stubborn old man and the innocent young boy (superbly played by Andrej Chalimon) to develop their characters and their bond in a way that completely captures our attention...and hearts. This wonderful piece of cinema deservedly won an Oscar for `Best Foreign Language Film' and scooped many other awards Worldwide.
I was hooked by this treasure of a film and loved every special moment it provides - and there are many. A big thumbs up from me and thoroughly recommended - you wont be disappointed.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Buy it. You will see how we have lived before. It's one of the best movies i've ever seen. Some of the jokes might stay a secret for foreigner but still.. you'll like it.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The film tells the story of a Czech musician who is forced to accept a five year old Russian boy after a marriage of convenience proves to be highly inconvenient. The film has a political backdrop but this runs discreetly parallel with the story, without being allowed to dominate. This is a very moving film. It's very much based on emotions, although it is never soppy. At no point was I bored and the only small incredulity was the speed with which the child learns Czech. The acting superb and the story simple but effective. I'd highly recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
simply delightful
The Golden Globe and the Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Language Film in 1996, Kolya is a touching comedy-drama about the connections people make with each other when it is... Read more
Published 19 days ago by Donald M. Macdonald
Kolya what an absolutely fabulous film.
After reading other reviews I went ahead and bought ths film.. Being an avid viewer of World and European cinema I watched this film completely enchanted by the wonderful... Read more
Published 5 months ago by DAVID LE QUESNE
Kolya
I love this film. I have seen it more than 10 times. It is a touching story about a Czech ladies man & Russian boy Kolya set in the communist Czechoslovakia just right before the... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Pavlina
A Good Saturday Night In
Recommended to me by a friend and it didn't disappoint. A very poignant story of human relationships. The sub-titles were very clear and easy to follow. Loved it. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2009 by S. M. Verrall
Kolya
A true award winner from one of the Greats of Czech cinema. Works on many levels.
Yet another insight into the way the Czech Nation delt with the fall of Capitalisum. Read more
Yet another insight into the way the Czech Nation delt with the fall of Capitalisum. Read more
Published on 4 April 2009 by Mr. W. A. Nuttall
How cute and how refreshing can a film be?!
I totally loved this. It had been sitting on my shelf for ages and i knew i would probably enjoy it but couldn't be bothered to watch it for some reason. How wrong was I to delay! Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2009 by Freya Freeman
Kolya
An excellent film - funny, heartwarming and at times poignant, also providing some excellent insights into life in communist Czechoslovakia.
Published on 1 May 2008 by Kelly H
Heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measure.
A beautiful film which takes its time and trusts in its hugely likeable characters. The incredibly affecting relationship between Louka and Kolya is allowed to grow organically and... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2008 by Chintan Nanavati
One of the best recent Czech movies
I am Czech, quite patriotic but not uncritical. I am convinced that you will enjoy this movie as well as I do whenever I see it. Read more
Published on 17 April 2006 by Silvie Galoczov
charming, funny film
This is a lovely film. Czech filmmakers have a skill in mixing slightly off-beat humour with charm and pathos, and that's what you get here. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2005 by Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane
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