I'm really glad this is your marathon and not my undertaking. These films are the type of cinema I can appreciate. I see what they're doing, but as far as enjoying them as films, I find them difficult to sit through. Part of it is being a stranger in a strange land. I'm lacking a proper history lesson on Czechoslovakia's social and political climate as well as the development of their film industry. So there are times when I'm not sure what Nemec is going for.
For example, towards the beginning we see the women down by a stream washing and changing into their formal ware. I could infer a sexual context into the scene, though these women are not being put on display. The men don't receive the same treatment in their prep. But the camera is often too close and the women clearly being shown more for their naturalism than for their beauty. So what is the point of the scene? I'm missing something, which is entirely my fault.
Luckily, Nemec is very brief. (The film is only 67 minutes). After 10 minutes he gets right to the point with a series of set-pieces demonstrating the dangers and ease of outright conformity. The satire reminded me of Buñuel, especially Simon of the Desert which is just as short and direct. It also made me think of Milos Forman's Czech satire The Fireman's Ball. I can't begin to explain the different approaches to satire but that commonality is what separates this film from outright Buñuel.
On it's most basic terms, the acting is very good with the two hosts of the party being downright mesmerizing. I loved everything about those two, including how they played off each other like a Southern plantation Big Daddy and his spoiled brat son. The design of the banquet, with rows of tables along a lake makes a great presentation as well.
I can see some people loving a film like this - I'll be shocked if MartinTeller gives this less than 85 - and I wouldn't call it a bad film. Just not my cup of tea. I'd like to thank tjwells for acting as a guide through these films and pushing me to watch them. Plus, doing it this way I don't have to give a Rating, which couldn't possibly reflect on both the quality of the film AND my reaction to watching it.