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5.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Snatkova kancelar remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for dusty, black-and-white European comedies where everyone is yelling and running through doors, Snatkova kancelar is worth a lazy Sunday watch. But honestly, if you can't stand early talkies with that constant background hiss, you will probably hate this within ten minutes. 📻
The whole plot is basically about a marriage bureau run by people who probably shouldn't even be allowed to manage a lemonade stand. It is just a big excuse for old-school Czech matchmaking chaos and awkward dates.
The legendary Jindřich Plachta is in this, and his face does most of the heavy lifting. He has this way of looking utterly defeated by life that just makes you chuckle without him even saying a word.
There is a scene where three different couples are trying to hide in the same tiny office, and it goes on for so long you start to wonder if the director forgot to yell cut. It's beautiful in its own clumsy way.
The sound quality is... well, let's just say it's very "vintage." Sometimes the actors sound like they are speaking into a tin can filled with soup, but that's part of the fun.
It actually reminds me a bit of the chaotic relationship energy in Ladies at Play, where the plot is just a loose clothesline to hang funny situations on.
I spent at least ten minutes just staring at Theodor Pištěk's mustache. It is so perfectly groomed and massive that it almost feels like a separate character in the room. 🥸
Some of the jokes definitely don't land anymore, and a few reaction shots linger for an uncomfortable amount of time. The crowd scenes also have this oddly empty feeling, like half the extras wandered off to get lunch.
Still, if you want a weird little time capsule with some genuine chuckles, give it a go. Just don't expect a masterpiece.