I Am Good

U me dobry

(Czech Republic, 2008, 102 mins)

35mm

International Premiere

Selected Filmography:  

PROD: Ondrej Trojan
SCR: Petr Jarchovsky
CAM: Jan Malir
ED: Vladimir Barak
MUS: Norbi Kovacs
Cast: Boleslav Polivka, Jirí Schmitzer, Lenka Vlasakova, Josef Somr, Miroslav Vladyka

Director Jan Hrebejk's (Cosy Dens, Beauty in Trouble) new film is something of a departure from his previous work. At a rundown pub, in a particularly bleary section of Prague, a group of friends while away the hours, arguing in desultory fashion, playing cards, basically doing as little as is humanly possible. But when one of their number gets fleeced at a rigged card game run by some local gangsters, this most unlikely group of would-be conmen decides to turn the tables.

Taking inspiration once more from the work of author Petr Sabach, Hrebejk has fashioned something of an old-fashioned caper film, albeit one with a distinctly Eastern European dyspepsia. The advent of capitalism--the film is set in the early 90s-- forms the subtext for this misadventure, but there is no didactic agenda in the works; if Hrebejk has any critique or agenda to advance, he does so only in the most deliciously haphazard way. As the con comes together, the pieces of the story assemble in lovely fashion, clicking into place with a highly satisfying momentum. The delight in seeing these sadsacks pull one over on local thugs has a deep and involving charm. You may find yourself cheering. A light-hearted comedy that combines action, intrigue and a loving tip of the hat to the Newman/Redford classic The Sting, I Am Good (the title refers to a card-game expression) possesses a sly humour and warmth all of its own.

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