To be short and simple:its a likable story.Its sometimes trivial with no twists and as little spice at the ending, with some fine remarks on attitude and petty-bourgeois mentality of people.The credit goes to A.Tomic's novel alone for a great template. I surely cannot be totally objective as Im disgusted with other croatian attempts in making a successful comedy...This one is a lemonade.Easy drinking and not so much impressing- but when you are estimating this movie, you should put it in context of previous attempts of comedy and farce in Croatia, and there, it exceeds all of its predecessors.All of that remarks about thin characterization and on occasions pompous directing are far too serious for such a superficial movie
11 Reviews
Hilarious movie (to IMDb admin -> again, there is NO serbo-croatian language - please correct ASAP!!!)
simezd2 November 2006
I read the Anto Tomic's great novel that the movie is based on couple of years before the movie came out. I found the movie to be just as hilarious as the book. I've seen the movie a few times, and although of course there is always room for improvement especially considering the flow, it certainly satisfies the comedic requirement and has carried most of the ideas from the novel. I highly recommend it to all. The English-speaking audience, although a bit deprived of understanding the original Croatian language in the movie, will find the subtitles more than sufficient. At least all of my American friends who watched the movie found it to be a great comedy.
a good film
vioman112 January 2006
I have to admit that it's a while since I saw such a good Croatian movie.And I'm really happy that the things are starting to move in our filmography.
So I really can't understand the negative comments that I read.OK,maybe it's the question of taste,and we don't want to discuss that,but still: the photography is really good,the story flows well,and I don't find the humor shallow.In fact,I didn't hear such a good haiku poem in a while.
Message of the film is maybe unoriginal (love conquers all).But maybe it's not too bad to hear it again,and again from time to time.I doubt we all live a "pink" lives....
So I really can't understand the negative comments that I read.OK,maybe it's the question of taste,and we don't want to discuss that,but still: the photography is really good,the story flows well,and I don't find the humor shallow.In fact,I didn't hear such a good haiku poem in a while.
Message of the film is maybe unoriginal (love conquers all).But maybe it's not too bad to hear it again,and again from time to time.I doubt we all live a "pink" lives....
Hilarious comedy about forbidden love and pastoral mentality
Ctalkep7928 November 2007
Hilarious... I've seen it couple of times, and I keep finding little diamonds here and there... This is a post-nationalist, post-patriotic movie that reverberates with all audiences in the Western Balkans, uncovering the common humanity and exposing the excesses of the recent past. I haven't seen a Croatian movie in almost twenty years, and I am particularly glad to see that Croatian film making is alive and well. I have to admit, the movie reminded me how similar in mentality and thinking the peoples of ex-Yugoslavia really are. While it may be politically incorrect for some today to call the language the movie was filmed in "serbo-croatian", the reality is, if this movie was filmed in "Croatian", "translating" it to "Serbian", as in subtitles, would just add a further element of comedy to it. The difference, particularly for the dialect spoken in the movie, being as between Canadian and American English.
Grow up people, will you?
betjarf19 January 2006
OK, this is NOT the best Croatian movie of all times, but it's hardly the worst either. The story is good, it has a few jokes which are actually funny, and the acting is quite good. However, Hribar shows an amazing lack of sense for humor and rhythm and, while some scenes seem professionally done, the opening sequence, for example, is terrible. A CGI plane? Trash. It's also interesting to see how recent Croatian filmmakers make for a lack of jokes: simply insert a profanity! Amazingly, the whole theater laughed every time a character said an f-word. Even when it was clearly not intended to be funny. Weird. The script saves it and some good actors in supporting roles, but watch Bresan's films for more intelligent Croatian comedy.
P.S. I've seen some people posting about Janica Kostelic... What the hell has that to do with this???
P.S. I've seen some people posting about Janica Kostelic... What the hell has that to do with this???
masterpiece
sara_zg7 January 2006
I do not agree with the comment above, and since I realized that it has been accepted as useful by some of the guests of this site, I feel something else has to be said about this film too.
I saw the movie last night, and I'm still impressed! it is one of the funniest, warmest and most intelligent movies I've seen in a long time, especially in filmography of former Yugoslavia.
The director has somehow managed to create film which communicates with the audience so easily and open-heartedly.
The humor is very subtle and profound, the actors are exquisite, and the photography is brilliant.
Film-making in former Yugoslavia is still vital. Nice thing is that when crisis inflicts one national production, for instance, recent Serbian film , others take the torch. Slovenian films had some strong years lately,and now it is obviously that the Croatian film stands as the regional flagship. My arguments are: Wonderful night in Split, Sorry for Kung Fu, and above all, What is a Man without Moustache. Film that overwhelmed me so that I can't stop thinking about it. I recommend this movie to everyone who has the opportunity to see it!!!
I saw the movie last night, and I'm still impressed! it is one of the funniest, warmest and most intelligent movies I've seen in a long time, especially in filmography of former Yugoslavia.
The director has somehow managed to create film which communicates with the audience so easily and open-heartedly.
The humor is very subtle and profound, the actors are exquisite, and the photography is brilliant.
Film-making in former Yugoslavia is still vital. Nice thing is that when crisis inflicts one national production, for instance, recent Serbian film , others take the torch. Slovenian films had some strong years lately,and now it is obviously that the Croatian film stands as the regional flagship. My arguments are: Wonderful night in Split, Sorry for Kung Fu, and above all, What is a Man without Moustache. Film that overwhelmed me so that I can't stop thinking about it. I recommend this movie to everyone who has the opportunity to see it!!!
Forced humor and pretentious direction
draganbantic28 August 2005
The film was screened in the competition of the 11th Sarajevo film festival (2005) and it betrayed expectations. It's a false comedy based on the novel written by Croatian journalist and writer Ante Tomic. Unoriginal love story between the young widow and a catholic priest is dressed with mockery with peasants from southern Croatia and their characteristics. A lot of jokes (mainly old ones and already seen in Serbian movies) without necessary film totality. Hribar's direction makes efforts to looks like "american" and the result is miserable. The actors are fine (mostly). The best is Zrinka Cvitesic, young and good looking actress. The photography is the best part of this movie.
A very good movie!
ttajci19 March 2007
I have nothing but praise for this movie. The plot is OK, nothing special, but OK. The thing that impresses me most is the way author showed so up close and vividly the mentality of southern Croatia. Picturing the everyday life and routine, furthermore showing through the characters very real how the people actually are in the backgrounds of Dalmatia whit their "common" truths and opinions about life in general and religion. I consider that to be the baseline of humor in this film, of course only if you are enough open minded not to find that offensive, but highly humorous.
My utmost praise goes to excellent music in the movie. Once again brilliant Tamara Obrovac showed what a class of musician she is! Her catchy tarantella "Daleko je ko me voli" goes like a leitmotif throughout the film. I enjoyed so much in the music, that I wouldn't mind film being an absolute cr** (which isn't). So if not for the movie, at least go and listen to some fine music!
P.S. If you are hungry for good Croatian movies I recommend "Fine mrtve djevojke" aka "Fine dead girls".
My utmost praise goes to excellent music in the movie. Once again brilliant Tamara Obrovac showed what a class of musician she is! Her catchy tarantella "Daleko je ko me voli" goes like a leitmotif throughout the film. I enjoyed so much in the music, that I wouldn't mind film being an absolute cr** (which isn't). So if not for the movie, at least go and listen to some fine music!
P.S. If you are hungry for good Croatian movies I recommend "Fine mrtve djevojke" aka "Fine dead girls".
This is CROATIAN movie with CROATIAN language!
misir6 February 2006
First of all the movie is great and i would recommended it to everyone who knows our way of humor and our everyday life. The movie contains lot's of funny and great scenes and it is very funny and inspiring for our people in Croatia and for those Croats in other countries and continents. I have seen it for three times till now and i would watch it again be sure! I am proud to be Croat and I watched this movie and it was in Croatian language, I haven't seen any Serbs in it or heard Serbian language, so please correct your mistake and put CROATIAN language in description of movie. I'm sending lot's of best wishes for all Croats around the world! Bog i HRVATI!
Great movie
matijabenkovic4 May 2020
Miserable, I want my money back !
lanakreuz8 January 2006
I want my money back, Ivana Bacic ! I red your comment yesterday and I went to the movies to watch the film. I'm totally disappointed. If the aim of art of film is only entertaining then «Sto je muskarac bez brkova» deserves mark 3 of 10. For me that is maximum for several old and very cheap jokes I heard and saw. I simply can't believe that Hribar (who is very fond of performing an intellectual) can make such a shallow and banal film. Unfortunately this film make me sure that audience in Croatia is mostly fond of buffoonery. Right, not comedy but buffoonery. It's enough that someone on the screen says «sh**» or «ass» that crowd starts to laugh and applaud. Miserable, very very miserable
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