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January 20, 1969 The N. C. Essay Page 2 Czech Film Is Sensitive Drama by Anthony N. Fragola "Closely Watched Trains" is a sensitive portrayal of a young ap prentice named Milos who finds that he cannot fulfill the sexual demands of manhood. Director Jiri Menzel treats his subject with a mixture of whimsey and pathos. For example, the aud ience is led to assume that Milos' character has been strangely shaped by a long line of weird ancestors, including a grandfather who tried to stop the German onslaught into Cze- choslavakia by utilizing his hypno tic powers over the advancing ranks. (He almost succeeded.) However, Mi los’ problem with his girlfriend is real and agonizing. Humiliated, fearful of being impotent, Milos at tempts suicide. The strength of "Closely Watch ed Trains" lies in the way earthli- ness and reality are subtly blended with a sense of humor. Jiri Menzel shows that he can laugh as well as cry at the human condition. NORTH •'V CAROLINA^ iCHOOL Of tm;; ARTS The N. C. ESSAY STAFF NCSA Editor Tony SenteT Co-editor Lynn Bernhardt Feature Writers David Wood Mark Walsh Dance Editor. . . . Sandra Witt'tams Political Dennis Williamson Typists Harold Ingram Caj(‘ol MoCurdy Carol Johnson Pat Yanaey Proofreader Beaky Troxler Business Manager. . . . Tess Morton Advertising Manager . Polly Croaker Layout Tony Senter Advisor Anthony Fragola Art Loma Frady Vac lay Neckar plays Milos so masterfully - shy, gawky, patheti cally self-conscious - that one could never guess that he is a rock' n roll star, a national celebrity in his own country. It is through Milos' friendship with the experienced Dispatcher Hu- bricka that Milos finally becomes confident, since Hubricka provides Milos with a beautiful blond resis tance fighter who has the experience to solve Milos' dilemma. Perhaps the greatest flaw of the script comes when Milos helps Dispatcher Hubricka blow up an ammu nition train. Until this point, the movie is a touching comedy, the only tragedy exists in Milos' excruciat ing self-consciousness. The sense less tragedy which follows seems un necessary and out of context with the rest of the movie. This conclusion can only make sense when viewed within Marxian thought, and despite Czechoslavakias' resistance against the Russians, it is still Marxist oriented in philos ophy. Within this framework, Milos' impotency can be seen as a result of his lack of social commitment: he has no part in the resistance and he WELCOME TO The Wagon Wheel Restaurant 418 Waughtown St. 10 A.M. - Midnight has taken the job as dispatcher be cause it promises to be an idle occu pation. Only within a Marxist phil osophy does the history of his an cestors have any important relevance to the file. One died fighting the i?esistance, the other was beaten to death by workman who he tauned and mocked as they worked. His father, though retired and envied, lives a barren, bored existence. The high point of his day comes when he can check the time schedule of tie pass ing trains. Again the Marxist in sistence on the importance of work is evident. Milos is a product of all these men - he is at first an idler, later joins the resistance, and like his father, goes to work for the railroad. Significantly, Milos' impotency disappears only after he actively commits himself to the resistance. His flagging self-image is strength ened; his life has taken on meaning. Now Milos can move into the realm of virule manhood. Yet even within this context, the tragedy which be falls Milos is pointless. For an American, however, who is not steeped in Marxist theory, the movie may lack unity and be slow in pace. Nevertheless, for the viewer who is sensitive enough to see a touching drama unfold in the eyes, on the face, and in the awkward at tempts of Milos to resolve his pro blem, "Closely Watched Trains" is a meaningful film. ^^amar I Arts Crafts Finishes THRUWAY SHOPPING CENTER LOWER MALL mop AMP mw- m\\^' TO 60, mi JCK! AWPHOO/ AReWTht^ a? VTAW, AMP HOJO ((VU UOUR. pIaws m rmv, pick:? / MAKf A FBU) SpgECH, POT UP A C00PL6 OF book SH5LV6S- ^smives mie (1 MC6h. ABF TAeie. / sm CO, HIT m m 70 6'tr A Feucu) OP FOR im R^STOF MP/Vy'. I
N.C. Essay (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Jan. 27, 1969, edition 1
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