You’ve never seen a film like the absurd Czech comedy Polski Film, in which four Czech actors play themselves banding together to make an ill-fated movie with Polish financing. Think of a film-within-a-film mockumentary made by Christopher Guest’s repertory company with the actors in their own personae – and with a touch of Bunuel; then flavor the whole thing with the Czech Republic’s own unique humor. Of course, there are also comments on the Poles and a very funny German joke.
A Czech tabloid concocts a false story that one of the actors is dying of cancer; he uses the lie to gain the sympathy of a beautiful Polish actress and then must continue the charade. Another actor enjoys getting reactions from friends and even passersby by acting outrageously; we never quite know whether his meltdowns with his colleagues are real or performance art. And then there’s the Czech GPS system that berates drivers for not following directions – actually voiced by one of the stars of Polski Film.
This movie is not for anyone who needs to understand what’s going on at all times, but those who will just let it unfold will be rewarded. Unfortunately, the trailer is in Czech without subtitles, so we non-Czech speakers miss out on the deadpan humor.