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Reviewed by 9 / 10

Prague Spring '68 on radio

Slightly hollywoodized account of the role of media, specifically radio broadcast, in bringing the scent of democracy into Czechoslovakia in 1968.The focus of the story is on two brothers, one conformist and the other a revolting one. Their arc provides an anchor in everyday life - as opposed to the "collective hero" of the radio staff who are trying to get rid of the censorship and serve unbiased news - something unheard of at the time of socialist one official truth.Most of the movie's impact emerges from the current political climate, the Ukraine war very close to Czechia/Slovakia. Are we destined to repeat history?

Reviewed by 8 / 10

Prague Spring and The Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia

WAVES, known as VLNY in the Czech Republic, is a historical drama thriller based on true events from the late 1960s in what was then Czechoslovakia. A friend of mine saw this film and wanted me to check it out. Although the Czech Republic isn't known for its films, this received high praise and became the country's official Oscar submission. This movie covers the events that led to the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union and its allies in Poland, Bulgaria, and Hungary. Czechoslovakia was going through a period of liberalization reforms in 1967 during a political period called Prague Spring, where they elected a reformer Alexander Dubcek. The Soviets feared Czechoslovakia would defect to NATO and that liberalization would extend throughout the Eastern Bloc, threatening their power. One of their first objectives was to seize Czechoslovak Radio and silence the airwaves. Czechoslovak Radio was pushing back against censorship and propaganda and promoting reformist ideas across Czechoslovakia. It also kept Czechoslovakians updated on the news and called for nonviolent resistance, threatening the invaders. A famous saying applies here: 'Control the information, and you control the people.' Although actual events inspired the story, its characters and plot are fictional. Several journalists are based on actual journalists from Czechoslovak Radio.The Prague Spring push thrusts orphaned brothers Tomas and Pavel Havlik into the middle. Tomas initially wants no involvement in politics, but his teenage brother Pavel can't keep himself away from student protests. With his brother Pavel's safety reliant upon him, Tomas must make tough decisions. Tomas is a State Security (StB) agent, whose job is to check airwaves for intel. His director pressures him to join Czechoslovak Radio's journalist ranks as a technician to spy for StB. He agrees to join the team. Once he began working with the journalists, he recognized their care and love for their country. His conscience awakens, and he understands the gravity of his work.WAVES is a decent movie that is easy to follow, even with English subtitles. The beginning starts at a slow pace, but its grip on you tightens. The directing, acting, tight editing, and production are skillfully handled. They built the 1960s atmosphere well and used contemporary music of the era (although I don't know Czech music). The faster pacing and filming style in the second hour keep you wondering what is coming next and hoping the Soviets don't get there in time. There are a few flaws, though. First, they needed to address the relevant ongoing global issues at the time better. These include the increased Cold War tensions, the responding Brezhnev Doctrine that justified the USSR's intervention throughout Eastern Europe, and the massive crackdown on protests in the USSR. Second, the flow connecting several scenes seemed odd. Finally, while important, Czechoslovak Radio's role seemed exaggerated in the film.Would I recommend this? It's not a must-watch, but I suggest this film to those interested in learning about the threat Europe/the world faced from the communist Soviet Union. Also, the Soviets used the same false premise in 1968 that Russia used to invade Ukraine in 2022. As they say, history repeats itself. People often take the impact of journalists and reporters for granted. These are noble pursuits vital to civilization, and they often risk their lives courageously to bring information to the public. WAVES is worth watching once. My rating is 8/10.*Any trivia facts were obtained from IMDB's trivia page and plot/basic history/name information from Wiki.

Reviewed by 8 / 10

The Waves Have Always Been Powerful

Something tells me that this film was not released in our region, especially at this time, without any prior notice. This Czech-Slovak co-production with stunning scenery and crazy dramaturgy bears the remarkable title 'Vlny' (the Waves).The film tells the difficult story of a young technician, Tomas Havlik. He lives with his younger brother in a small apartment in Prague, the city of a hundred spires. The siblings were orphaned after their parents died in a tragic car accident, leaving them to rely on each other.Under unexpected circumstances, the older brother, Tomas, gets a job as a broadcast technician for the foreign affairs department of Czechoslovak Radio, while the younger brother, Pája, diligently continues his studies. Or more precisely, as part of a nationwide student movement against the tyrannical regime, he actively participates in the resistance. He distributes leaflets and participates in demonstrations.The media, and the most influential of them all-radio-are subject to strict censorship. Instead of truthful information, communist lies are spread through small radio boxes. Meanwhile, Tomas gets involved with state officials, and Warsaw Pact tanks are slowly heading for Prague. What will listeners to Czechoslovak Radio hear in these truly difficult times?If it weren't for my own father inviting me to see this film at the cinema, given the decline of the film industry and my interest in it, I would have completely missed the film. However, 'Vlny' convinced me that even in 2024, valuable works are still being created, even in our country.The plot demands the viewer's full attention right from the dynamic beginning and, through a heart-pounding crescendo, holds it until the very last scene. Technically, the film is absolutely brilliantly shot. The individual shots are sensitively chosen and perfectly convey the atmosphere of each scene.Modern editing techniques combine this with authentic historical excerpts, which only increase the credibility of the entire work. The beautifully lit scenes feature a star-studded cast from the Czech and Slovak countries. The developing storyline is supported by an exceptionally well-chosen selection of music. It fits perfectly with the wild editing.The narrative dramaturgy solidly refers to the pressure and stifling environment of the time. Sometimes it was difficult even for me to detach myself, but 'Vlny' has something to say to today's audience. It pays to stand firmly on the side of truth. Lies distort human character-that was one of the goals of the diabolical communist regime.Many journalists resisted Marxist pressure and persevered until 1989. But will today's European journalists succeed in doing the same? Will they courageously defend their character and resist Marxist bullying, albeit in a different guise? Or rather, under different banners?May the Waves be a powerful artistic memento for all people of goodwill in our times.

Waves

2024 [CZECH]

Drama / History / Thriller

Waves

2024 [CZECH]

Drama / History / Thriller

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Movie Reviews

Prague Spring '68 on radio

Prague Spring and The Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia

The Waves Have Always Been Powerful

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