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Walking Too Fast
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = Walking Too Fast
| native_name =
| image = WalkingTooFast2010Poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Film poster
| director = Radim paek
| producer = Vratislav lajer
| writer = Ondej tindl
| starring = Ondej Mal
| music = Tom Vtpil
| cinematography = Jaromr Kaer
| editing = Anna Ryndov
| studio = Bionaut Films
Cesk Televize
ALEF Film & Media Group
Universal Production Partners
Film Studio Gatteo (co-production)
Soundsquare
| distributor = Bontonfilm
| released =
| runtime = 146 minutes
| country =
| language = Czech
| budget = 15,000,000 K
| gross = $71,105
}}
'Walking Too Fast' (, literally 'handcuffs' or 'bonds') is a Czech thriller and drama film directed by Radim paek. 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 Antonn Rusnk 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.
Antonn and his partner Martin surveil Tom and Pavel. They are both dissidents but Pavel is also collaborating with Antonn and Martin. Antonn finds out that Tom, who is married, has a lover, Klra. Antonn 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 Tom to leave the country to get rid of him. He beats him up during interrogations and reveals his affair to his family and Tom finally decides to leave Czechoslovakia.
Antonn forces Pavel to arrange a meeting with Klra in exchange for seeing his file. Pavel then meets Antonn's partner Martin in order to reveal the agreement he made with Antonn. Martin states that Antonn is done at StB but doesn't know that Antonn 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 Antonn handcuffs him to a tree.
Antonn and Klra meet in Pavel's apartment. The meeting doesn't end well and Antonn gets a fit so he breathes into the bag which makes Klra realize that Antonn is the agent who terrorized Tom. He tells her that he followed her and she admits that she felt as if somebody was watching her for a long time. Antonn reveals his name and she says that he has to stop watching her.
Klra leaves the apartment but writes a message for Pavel on the Wall - "Svin" (Swine). Klra 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 Antonn 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 Klra will remember his name. In the end he states "It is beautiful here" as he kills himself.
Cast
* Ondej Mal - Antonn Rusnk, a State Security agent.
* Martin Finger - Tom Skora, a member of Dissident.http://kostlan.blog.respekt.ihned.cz/c1-45951550-pouta-jako-estebacka-lovestory Czech
* Kristna Farkaov - Klra Kadlecov, Tom's lover.
* Lubo Vesel - Pavel Vesel, an important figure in dissident movement and a close friend to Tom.
* Luk Latink - Martin Husr, Antonn's partner
* Barbora Milotov - Silvie Skorov Tom's wife
* Ivana Uhlov Darina, Klra's friend.
* Oldich Kaiser Janeek, Antonn and Martin's boss.
* Iva Pazderkov as Miluka
* Jana Jankov as imkov
* Monika Fingerov as Rusnk's wife
* Ji trbl as Martinec
* Cyril Drozda as Doctor
* Natlie Drabikov as Anna ehkov
Production
The film is inspired by 1995 Casino. Screenwriter Ondej tindl decided to make a similar story that would replace Mobsters with Agents of Communist State Security. 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 Summer 2009. The film was shot in Prague, Ostrava and Bratislava. Post-production concluded in December 2009.
Release
The film premiered on 4 February 2010. The film returned to Cinemas on 3 March 2011 as a reaction to its success at Czech Lion Awards.
Awards
The film gained 13 nominations for Czech Lion. It received 5 of them - Best film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Actor in Leading Role. Film also received 'The Film Critics' Award'.
'Walking Too Fast' also succeeded at Czech Film Critics' Awards. The film was awarded in 5 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. Frantiek Fuka considers it to be the best Czech film in a few last years if not the best since the Velvet revolution. The film holds 74% on Czech-Slovak Film Database.
Reviews
* Jaroslav Sedlek, 'Kinobox.cz', February 4, 2010 85% [http://www.kinobox.cz/cfn/clanek/3564-recenze-pouta]* Kamil Fila, 'Aktuln.cz', February 5, 2010 75% [http://aktualne.centrum.cz/kultura/film/recenze/clanek.phtml?id=659832]
* Kamila Bohkov, 'A2' 3/2010 [http://www.advojka.cz/archiv/2010/3/proc-jsou-pouta-cesky-film-dekady]
* Jan Gregor, 'Respekt' 5/2010, February 1, 2010 [http://respekt.ihned.cz/c1-40226150-pod-okem-orla Accessible online just in when pay]
* Vt Schmarc, 'MovieZone.cz', January 26, 2010 90% [http://film.moviezone.cz/pouta/recenze/]
* Frantiek Fuka, 'FFFilm', January 11, 2010 100% [http://fffilm.fuxoft.cz/2010/01/recenze-pouta-100.html]
Accolades
International festivals
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.
References
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