A Bonton Film (in Czech Republic) release of a Bionaut Films production, in co-production with Czech Television, with the support of the state fund of the Czech Republic for the support and development of Czech cinematography, in cooperation with ACE, CINDIGI, UPP, Soundsquare, Black Cut. (International sales: Film Europe, Prague.) Produced by Vratislav Slajer.
Directed, written by Maria Prochazkova.
Cleverly riffing on "Little Red Riding Hood," charming all-ages drama "Who's Afraid of the Wolf" looks at serious family matters from the perspective of a 6-year-old girl. Tightly scripted, beautifully mounted sophomore effort from Czech helmer-writer Maria Prochazkova ("Shark in the Head") is wondrously inventive and irresistibly played. An arthouse release at home, it should appeal to fests and discerning smallscreen programmers offshore in search of quality material that parents and children can enjoy together.
Prague-set tale centers on sensitive moppet Terezka (Dorotka Dedkova), whose favorite bedtime story is "Little Red Riding Hood," even though it gives her bad dreams. Her family consists of her loving but tightly wound mother (Jitka Cvancarova), a once-promising singer who put her career on hold; her warm but workaholic father (Pavel Reznicek); and her elegant, critical granny (Jana Krausova), who schemes to reunite daughter with her former boyfriend Patrik, a selfish virtuoso musician (Martin Hofmann).
At kindergarten, Terezka and best friend Simon (Matous Kratina) excitedly share their growing knowledge, including important tidbits such as how to identify an alien. When another tyke lands a new sibling, Terezka becomes obsessed with whether her mother is
really her mother, little suspecting the altogether different secret surrounding her parentage.
On one level, the pic skillfully shows the world as it seems to impressionable youngsters who rely on TV and their own not entirely rational observations for explanations. Yet on another, it plays perfectly to adults who pick up on the love triangle between the mother and two men -- one of whom reps safety and routine, and the other the magic of distance and unfulfilled ambition.
A prizewinning animator, Prochazkova supplements the lush, color-saturated visuals with cute, childlike drawings that, along with Terezka's voiceover, illustrate her p.o.v. Led by one of composer Jan P. Muchow's best scores, the bright, cheerful tech package is everything it should be.
Camera (color), Martin Stepanek; editor, Marek Opatrny; music, Jan P. Muchow; art designer, Prochazkova; set designer, Jan Novotny; costume designer, Katerina Coufalkova; sound (Dolby Digital), Marek Hart. Reviewed at Berlin Film Festival (Generation Kplus), Feb. 10, 2008. Running time: 90 MIN.
With Dorotka Dedkova, Jitka Cvancarova, Pavel Reznicek, Martin Hofmann, Jana Krausova, Matous Kratina, Marie Bokova.
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