Hanka: A Dusty Relic or Hidden Gem?

Is it worth the time?

Honestly, only if you have a high tolerance for black-and-white melodrama that moves at the speed of a parked tractor. If you like your movies fast and loud, you’ll probably find this thing a total snooze-fest. But if you’re into the way old films look when they’ve been sitting in a box for eighty years, stick around.

It’s definitely not for everyone. Most people will find the acting a bit stiff, like everyone is trying to remember their lines while also being very afraid of the camera.

Observations from the cheap seats

The cinematography has this weird, flat quality to it. Almost like the background was painted on a bedsheet. At one point, the main character is standing in a field and the lighting just… gives up. It goes from bright daylight to moody shadow in about three seconds.

I couldn't help but think about how much more punchy The Cricket on the Hearth felt compared to this. There’s a scene where the characters are just staring at a wall. I swear it lasted a full minute. I checked my watch. Twice.

Then there’s the dialogue. It’s dense. It feels like every line has to be a life-altering realization or a dark secret. Nobody just talks about the weather here. Everything is a capital-T Tragedy.

• The costumes look like they’ve seen better days.
• There’s a bit where the audio quality drops so low I had to guess what was being said.
• The ending? I’m still not sure if it was meant to be happy or just abrupt.

It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Küzdelem a Létért, though without the same level of focus. Hanka feels like it wants to be a big epic but keeps getting distracted by its own shadows. It’s imperfect, sure. But there’s a weird honesty to the way it drags its feet through the mud.

Definitely a movie for a rainy Sunday when you’re bored of everything else on the streaming services. Don’t expect a masterpiece. Just expect a long, slightly dusty walk through someone else’s past. 🎞️