A Czech Comedy on How You’re Only as Old as You Feel… ****************************************************************************************** * A Czech Comedy on How You’re Only as Old as You Feel… ****************************************************************************************** Erasmus has its fifteen minutes of fame in the award-winning Czech film Revival, starring University [ URL "http://iforumeng.cuni.cz/IFORUMENG-23.html"] students from Finland, Siir Aleksi Korpijaakko. Given an official rating of 7/10 on the accredited IMDB film reviewing site and labeled th of the summer” by Cineuropa, I was expecting some good stuff and was not disappointed. Exh class and happy hour on cocktails the night before, I was soon relaxed by this smooth, ski childhood friends reuniting as middle aged adults to reform the band that rocked the chart youths. Motivated by Bridget Jones style depression and midlife crisis fears – lack of mon fun, reliving their 20s, escaping an oppressive marriage – they get to work with their new regain publicity, fame and fortune. The boys had been split up since the 1972 during the c followed their separate paths for 40 years and now were back in town. The film, which was screened in Czech with English subtitles this March at the MAT cinema a lovable and classic tale of friendship and family and was a light and entertaining midwe of the Prize of the Public, the film featured as part of the Karlovy Vary International Fi 2013 as the sixth successful script by Czech film writer, director and producer Alice Nell surprised at the warm welcome it had already received by Czech viewers. Following an innov as Smoke, who had a similar profile to The Beatles in their prime and interestingly sang i I interpreted as a subtle protest to the communist regime but unfortunately this was not r the plot), the film had a typical rom-com-feel recipe of tragedy and comedy. The band members strangely reunite to play at a funeral, yet something beautiful emerges. invigorated, bankrupt ex-keyboardist Milan conspires to a tour plan for the band – urging to the box offices by faking a terminal illness, in which he plots his last wish to be for one final encounter with their old crowd. He organises his band mates and a marketing team soon their plan is in full swing. The storyline had a secretive and dark dimension, but wa your average tissue-grabber. Instead it was jam-packed with wit, and a real must-see, live Czech comedy with some musical jamming intervals to get you grooving. Despite its jolly tones, the themes were subtle, complex and challenging; approaching the single-minded nature of the entertainment’s industry, the fluid status of family and frien the turnovers of generations, societal fear and obsession of age, regrets, change, art and all of which are taken with a pinch of salt and a touch of edgy humour. And, like any good me with a few morals worth reflecting on: enjoy your youth and freedom, savour it, be true ignore the restrictions of age and don’t waste your time, because life is short. Cheesy, I think it fits quite well to our Erasmus motivations. Wouldn’t you agree? Most importantly, the two ex-Erasmus students did Charles University proud in their roles filmmakers, who were set to shoot the band’s promotion and music videos – what could be mo the film cast than two Erasmus veterans themselves! Poppy Gerrard-Abbott is an Erasmus student studying BA Humanities at the Faculty of Arts, aspiring journalists; to grow closer to the social and creative life of Charles University Poppy saw the iForum as an exciting opportunity to pursue her interests in politics, cultu extended her writing skills and her knowledge of the Czech Republic, and hopes Charles Uni