Riders in the Sky

The partial easing of political tension in Czechoslovakia in 1968 created fertile ground for the emergence of this film. I don't think anyone would have dared to film this in any other era. The battle of Czech airmen, in the service of the English RAF, against Germany is a celebration of civilian heroism. Heroism as it was. Director Jindřich Polák pays tribute to those who fought for something that few can understand today. Formally, the film is packed to the brim. Indeed, that fact it’s almost 40 years old has left a rather strong impact on it, and yet aerial dogfights and bombing of strategic targets in this film still remain impressive. Jan Němeček's camera work is excellent. But this film is not about warfare. It is about the War and, more importantly, about the people in it. One character next to another. Most viewers will probably instantly fall in love with Sgt. Novák brilliantly portrayed by Jiří Hrzán. While his witty lines may bring a smile, the smile freezes and chills at the thought that war is all around. At first, I wondered how much the Riders in the Sky could be compared to Dark Blue World, which came out thirty years later. However, that may not be the best idea, as both stories are about the same subject but told differently, and Riders in the Sky would also "lose" in terms of its form. Let's leave to Svěrák what is Svěrák's and appreciate the fact that Jindřich Polák made this film. This is a film that should be seen not only by every proper Czech... (07.05.2005)

Surprisingly, a human perspective on war with all its positives and negatives that it can bring. The night action is suggestive, the viewer roots for the heroes until the last moment, and every potential danger makes them tremble for the upcoming moment. However, everything goes downhill when the script tries to lighten the situation and some lines start creeping into the poignant hospital scenes. It then turns the Riders into just a well-done film war, but the unforgettable message is suddenly gone. 70% (06.02.2006)