Something Different (1963) Reviews

This is Vera's first film after graduating from the Prague Film Academy. I was so excited to find and get it finally. Chytilova is one of female directors I worship all the time, not only for her bold and experimental mind, but also for never met the spirit of innovation, especially appreciate her early works: "Something Different" "daisy" and "Fruit of Paradise."shot in the new wave period.

"O necem jinem" is a great work, an excellent female film. No expressionism and experimentation like later "daisy", "O necem jinem" makes people feel more heartfelt female independence, initiative and attention. The film is made up of two completely unrelated stories: one records the Czech Olympic gymnastics champion Eva Bosakova in a documentary-style method, from strenuous efforts to insist on training to overcome the pain and psychological distress from the pressure, and ultimately standed in the winner of gold medal's platform; the other story describes a housewife Vera's family life in usual drama-film style. Vera's life, only had her husband and son in it, all of her busyness in every day was to take care of them. But the son was so naughty and disobedient that often makes Vera headache. and moreover, her husband was also too indifferent to have conversations with her, either slept or watched a soccer match or read the newspaper after coming home every day. Vera gradually felt intense suffocation to such a unlively life atmosphere, and her spirit had been collapsed nearly by those too much family trifles. Vera, at this time,walked out from home, met a man, began her affair.

Two story lines alternate in the film, which appears to be two completely parallel lines, no point of intersection. But right in this narrative of no intersection, the two women similarly bear their own personal living situation, then to work hard, to pursue, to protest. So strong and independent women are captured in this way by the cameras of Chytilova. At the same time, two parallel stories also look like two mirrors reflecting each other. One strived for dream, and the other was in effortful pursuit of emotion. It is very gratifying that the two women had achieved success in the end. Eva received the Olympic champion, later retired as a coach; Vera got through her pursuit and resistance to make her husband finally understand her sadness and lonelyness, the family came into jolly harmony in the end. Chytilova just simply combined documentary and narrative,the two totally different film genres in her film, and gave it a satisfactory end. In the process she brought forward new ideas and new problems, however, she did not answer it deliberately and explain her views for them, but give everything to the audience, make the audience join into the film to think about it, to get an answer for the problems.