Key Facts
Ivan Ostrochovský's 'Only Beautiful Things to Look At' premiered at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in July 2026. The film is a co-production between Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Hungary, produced by Punkchart Films. It runs 88 minutes and features a cast led by Anna Geislerová, Simona Boledovičová, and Eva Mores.
Film Details
Set in 1980s Czechoslovakia, the story revolves around Ingrid (Anna Geislerová), a white female doctor who performs sterilizations on Roma women as part of a state-mandated program. The film follows her gradual moral awakening as she befriends Agata (Simona Boledovičová), a Roma orderly who hides her identity. Meanwhile, Agata's sister Jula (Eva Mores) lives within the Roma community, struggling with an unwanted pregnancy.
Critical Analysis
While the film is visually stunning—thanks to cinematographer Juraj Chlpík's warm, painterly shots—it suffers from a lack of urgency. The focus on Ingrid's perspective, rather than the Roma women themselves, softens the impact of the atrocity. The reviewer, Jessica Kiang, notes that the film's 'attractive yet oddly bloodless presentation' makes the horrors feel distant, as if viewing a museum exhibit. This is particularly problematic because forced sterilizations continued in the Czech and Slovak Republics well into the 21st century.
What Viewers Should Know
- The film's title ironically highlights the problem: it offers only beautiful things to look at, while the true ugliness of the crime remains in the background.
- The subplot involving the sisters Agata and Jula is more compelling than the main narrative, but it is underdeveloped.
- The ending has been criticized as 'glib,' resolving conflicts too neatly.
FAQ
What is the movie 'Only Beautiful Things to Look At' about?
The film exposes the Czechoslovakian government's program of forced sterilization of Roma women in the 1980s, focusing on a white female doctor's moral awakening.
Who directed 'Only Beautiful Things to Look At'?
The film is directed by Slovakian filmmaker Ivan Ostrochovský.
When was the film reviewed?
The review was published on July 11, 2026, after its screening at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
What are the main criticisms of the film?
Critics note that the film's beautiful aesthetics and focus on a white protagonist distance viewers from the real horror of the atrocities, which continued into the 21st century.