A Woman Who Knows What She Wants: Melodrama in Prague

Is it worth your time?

If you like old, slightly dusty dramas where people stare longingly out of windows, sure. It’s for the folks who enjoy those vintage films that smell like mothballs and velvet. If you need pacing faster than a tortoise on a stroll, you’ll probably hate this. It’s definitely not for the 'explosions every five minutes' crowd. 🍷

Manon shows up in Prague looking like she owns the place, but you can tell she’s carrying a mountain of baggage. She was pushed out by her husband, Rón, years ago, and now she’s back for a premiere. It’s classic stuff, but there’s something about the way the camera lingers on her face that makes you forgive the plot for being a bit predictable.

The vibe is... heavy

The whole movie feels like it’s trapped in a fancy parlor. There’s a lot of sitting around and having Very Serious Conversations. Marie Oliaková carries the screen pretty well, though. She has this way of looking at people where you can tell she’s already thinking about the next train out of town.

Sometimes the dialogue is so stiff you could use it as a ruler. But then, every once in a while, there’s a moment that actually hits you. Like when she sees her daughter—who is all grown up now—and realizes that time didn’t just pause for her while she was touring the world.

It’s weird how much it reminds me of the pacing in Sumerki zhenskoy dushi. It’s got that same kind of 'everything is tragic but let’s wear nice coats about it' energy. Not that it’s a bad thing.

• The lighting in the theater scene is surprisingly sharp for the time.
• The husband, Rón, is just the worst. Seriously, the guy is a total drag.
• I spent five minutes wondering where they got that specific lamp in the study.
• The music swells right when you expect it to, which is comforting in a 'I’ve seen this before' sort of way.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Does it make you want to call your mother or at least rethink your life choices? Maybe a little. It’s just nice to see a film that doesn't feel like it was focus-grouped to death by a committee of people who hate movies. 🎭

It’s fine. Just sit back and let the black-and-white grain do the work.