反复无常的夏天

美麗的伊士曼彩色畫面，沒想到為曼素添上的卻是憂鬱。憂鬱的夏日狂想，確是諷刺，對象可以是當時耽於逸樂的中產，亦可以是今天給物質麻醉不再吶喊的沉默大多數。三個中年男在鄉村度假勝地優哉遊哉，生活已提升為身上的一圈豬腩肉，或者口中自鳴得意的智慧箴言。熱沉沉的空氣中，跑來了馬戲藝人與美麗女助手。中年男要將美女弄到床上，有人的老婆卻想入非非去偷漢，結果人人都付出了代價。費里尼的《大路》炮製成黑色，大抵只有捷克式的幽默感才可以辦得到。捷克卡羅維發利國際電影節最佳電影獎《夏日狂想曲》改編自幽默風趣的捷克小說，以優美的彩色攝製，氣氛跟導演首作迥異。內容講三個中年朋友，神父、將軍和泳池管理員，在和睦暢快的氣氛中一起喝酒月旦世事。三人關係刻劃入微，影片有種令人想入非非的奇異魅力。 - Alistair Whyte, New Cinema in East EuropeDura, Roch and Hugo are at the heart of this comedy, released the same year as the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops. The three middle aged friends who spend the bulk of their time lounging around the local swimming hole are shaken out of their apathy when Arnostek (played by director Menzel, also an actor) and his companion Anna breeze into town. Though they bring a little sexual misadventure with them, Dura, Roch and Hugo find the resulting spontaneity and erotic dalliances bring them nothing more than disappointment and melancholy. This wistful slice of life sees Dura, Roch and Hugo slip from capriciousness back into longing frustration as quickly as summer retreats to autumn.Crystal globe at Karlovy Vary International Film FestivalCapricious Summer is beautifully shot in colour. The plot concerns three middle-aged friends, a priest, a major and a bathing-pool attendant, who meet, drink and argue in a lively but friendly way. The relationships between the three men are delicately portrayed, and the film has great whimsical charm.- Alistair Whyte, New Cinema in East EuropeSource: HKIFF Czech New Wave 2006