On the Tightrope (Na laně)

The film, directed by Ivo Novák and shot in the Cinemascope widescreen format, is the first solo feature-length cinematographic work by Stanislav Milota. He managed to elevate episodes from the life of the outsider Kája Micka, called Cat, into a visually unforgettable experience. Milota shot a large part of the film with a handheld camera, in order to capture Cat’s wild nature, and overexposed the retrospective scenes. On the Tightrope can be thematically categorized as a film reflecting on youth life, but unlike earlier films such as The Way Back (1958) and Crossroads (1959), it not only stands out visually, but also has a stronger script. Even if the nearly two-hour running time doesn’t sustain the exuberance until the end, Cat’s partying, trips with friends, climbing to dizzying heights, returns to the depressing reality of a poor household and hard labor in the Kladno steelworks are still a fascinating spectacle.

Veronika Zýková

Both screenings with English subtitles.