The Party and the Guests

Works as a political allegory, but very stale when viewed simply as a movie, and suffers thusly. I salute and respect Nemec for the sheer testicular mass it must have taken to make this movie, though.

It's bold, but after an hour of metaphorical diatribes there's not much left to say, leaving the film puttering to its ending. Not much to look at either as Nemec puts faces head-on to the screen, speaking directly to the audience, pointing fingers squarely at foolish, corrupt leaders. Still, there's an unsettling hint of universality to Nemec's condemnation of government, giving a chilling broader meaning to the film.

I really liked this as a strange film where everything is slightly off but still grounded. That said, I felt throughout like there was some deeper layer to the film that I just never got a hold of, making it less interesting or meaningful that I would have hoped.

Viewed February 17, 2022. Jan Nemec takes a coolly Bunuelian approach to this premise, assembling large ensemble scenes that veer between absurdist humor and bleak violence. It's more spare than I anticipated - I might prefer my Czech New Wave allegories to either be stylistically over-the-top or brimming with gentle characterization - but it fits the movie's grim view of human nature and its response to perceived threats.

Unsettling examination of mostly hegemonic (as opposed to coercive) forms of power through some excellent acting. Nice, simple setting and camera work. Queer undertones.

A simple yet oblique film about blind conformity and authority. The film's main thesis, I believe, is summed up in an excellent scene in which our "guests" meet a mysterious group of men who arbitrarily impose their wills upon them. I think its major flaw though is that its unconventionality isn't forceful enough. I think a stronger Bunuel or Kafka influence (ie the confidence and sheer authority in their visions) would have worked a lot better than the kind of woozy oddness at play here.

The allegory is really really vague and doesn't amuse (or creep you out) you in a way it should be. So, imo it is a weak film although it can be very important for the Czechs and Slovaks and their cinematic history.

A group of unsuspecting "guests" find themselves "invited" to an outdoors banquet (a wedding? a birthday?) hosted by domineering strangers, and that's about as much sense as Jan Nemec's absurdist comedy intends to make. Rather than trying to be shrewd and satirical like 1970s Bunuel, this brings to mind the role-play of children as they attempt to mimic adult behavior without fully understanding it. Almost nonchalantly weird and peculiar.