Key Facts
Ivan Ostrochovský's 'Only Beautiful Things to Look At' premiered at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in July 2026. The film tackles the Czechoslovak government's racist program of coerced sterilization of Roma women during the 1980s, a practice that continued into the 21st century in both the Czech and Slovak Republics.
Plot and Characters
The story follows Ingrid (Anna Geislerová), a white female doctor working at a hospital where sterilizations are performed. She lives a comfortable life with her husband Maros (Vlad Ivanov) in a picturesque countryside home. Through her friendship with Agata (Simona Boledovičová), a Roma orderly, Ingrid begins to question her role in the state's quotas. Meanwhile, Agata's estranged sister Jula (Eva Mores) represents the traditional Roma life, creating a contrast that highlights the film's central tensions.
Visual Style and Cinematography
Cinematographer Juraj Chlpík captures the 1980s Czechoslovakia with painstaking detail, but the film's beauty becomes a liability. The lush, warm-lit interiors and forest landscapes create a fairy-tale quality that softens the harsh reality of the subject matter. The reviewer notes that the film's 'attractive yet oddly bloodless presentation' makes the atrocity feel distant, like a period piece from a long-gone era.
Critique and Impact
The main criticism is the film's decision to center Ingrid's moral awakening rather than giving voice to Roma women themselves. The opening montage shows Roma women in studio portraits but they never speak. The film's focus on Ingrid's guilt and her beautiful life undermines the urgency of the issue. The reviewer argues that the film 'robs a vital edge of urgency and discomfort,' allowing viewers to dismiss the cruelty as past, when in fact sterilization policies persisted well into the 2000s.
What Readers Should Know
- The film is a co-production between Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Hungary, produced by Punkchart Films.
- It runs 88 minutes and features dialogue in Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, and Romani.
- The cast includes Anna Geislerová, Simona Boledovičová, Eva Mores, and Vlad Ivanov.
- The screenplay was co-written by Marek Leščák and Ostrochovský.
FAQ
What is the film 'Only Beautiful Things to Look At' about?
It is a drama set in 1980s Czechoslovakia, exposing the state's forced sterilization program targeting Roma women, seen through the eyes of a white female doctor.
Who directed the film?
The film is directed by Slovakian filmmaker Ivan Ostrochovský.
When was the film reviewed?
The review was published on July 11, 2026, following its screening at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
What is the main criticism of the film?
The film is criticized for its beautiful, soft-focus aesthetic that distances viewers from the atrocity, and for centering a white protagonist rather than Roma voices.