Happy End

There is an underlying plot rolling backwards, spoilers before exposition, with the sentences in each dialogue appearing in reverse order to hilarious effect, and then there's the narration interpreting the events as if they are correctly ordered, superimposing another, weirder plot. It's the most jarring mindfuck of a movie, even coming from the Czech New Wave which was fabulously experimental to begin with. Freakish, funny, beautifully shot, brilliantly construed.

What makes this film, whose narrative is entirely in reverse order, even more bizarre and blackly humoured is that it comes down to a unapologetic middle aged murderer attempting to survive beyond death by going backwards into his past for a happier life. By the end, the film does feel like it has outstayed its welcome even at 71 minutes, but something this gleefully macabre and strange should be treasured.

One stupid joke told for an hour. Points for commitment.

What a unique film experience. Told backwards, the protagonist interprets the story of his own life in reverse order, from execution to childhood. It's such an original and creative concept, offering many lasting surreal images (the hero slicing his dismembered wife back together for example) and some hilarious narration, not to mention fine performances from the whole cast. The short run time is welcome given the film's brain-teasing nature, but it's impossible to not want more.

funny its every moment thanks to the dialogues

Truly bizarre, and it takes quite a lot for me to say that about a film. It is baffling and has such a dark sense of humour, one scene in particular resulting in me alternating between laughing and saying "what?!" at the screen in shock (when we see the main character chop up his wife's body in reverse so that he's effectively attaching her body parts back together). I don't think every moment of the film works (in particular the ending), but it really is something else entirely.

Interesting idea and executed fairly well, but the comedy is too stupid to be funny and the narration is annoying.

An absolutely outstanding film. I can't really describe it, you have to see it for yourself. Amazing.