Cernobílá v barve

The opening shot in this documentary is of Vera--in her full glory (with a waist that is 143 cm!). It's an odd shot to begin a film with. She's not attractive, and she's so HUGE! But she is singing with all of her heart. The songs are from her own life, and they are rather touching.

Throughout the film, we follow Vera and her band in their trials and tribulations trying to make it as a Gypsy band in the Czech Republic. She has troubles with her adopted son--who recently went to jail. She has troubles with money--since she gets a lot of press people assume she gets paid a lot for interviews (she doesn't). She has troubles with keeping her band together--one of her musicians leaves just before her big show in Paris.

I have to admit, I didn't like Vera at first. She seemed like a fat, lazy, irresponsible woman who smokes too much. But after a while, she grows on you. By the end of the film I felt hope for her future. So, the film eventually worked in portraying Vera as a sympathetic character, in my opinion.

See it if you like Gypsy music, are interested in Czech/Slovakia contrasts or just like human stories.

My rating: 7