一直作為米路斯．科曼劇本鐵三角（另一位是帕培錫，也是本片編劇之一）成員的艾雲(yún)．巴薩，當(dāng)然也走低度戲劇路線。同是音樂家的彼德與卡洛老友重逢，生活狀況大不同，你有伴侶我有家庭，然而都有說不出的不明朗，唯有以酒與音樂代替口水。全片推展不問目的，只在剎那間的意圖，行行企企比起科曼更義無反顧，卻有生活淡如流水的詩意和繆思，叫觀眾聯(lián)想到二十年後的伊力．盧馬。巴薩鍾愛音樂的程度不下於文字和電影，古典音樂與民間音樂於全片迴轉(zhuǎn)迴盪，難怪成了奇斯洛夫斯基十大心愛電影之一。
康城影展青年評(píng)審團(tuán)獎(jiǎng)，美國(guó)全國(guó)影評(píng)人協(xié)會(huì)特別獎(jiǎng)
這部1966年的珍品，是捷克新浪潮短暫生命中最佳作品之一。成名音樂家到小鎮(zhèn)探訪舊同學(xué)，舊同學(xué)是個(gè)窮音樂教師，有時(shí)在喪禮上吹奏樂曲。平凡的素材在巴素手裡，變出風(fēng)趣復(fù)罕見的旋律，一部憂鬱的喜劇，或灰色喜劇。
- Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Ivan Passer's (Cutter's Way and Creator) last film to be made in his native Czechoslovakia is about friends – musician Petr and music teacher Karel – reunited when Petr returns to town for a performance. Passer frequently collaborated with Milos Forman and the episodic, low-action aesthetic that was evident in Forman's early work can be seen here. Years of separation have bred apprehension between the two men, and Karel's simmering jealousy makes their meeting all the more awkward. Eventually, the barriers crumble enough for the pair to freely discuss their lives. The film's simple beauty is in the details of the men's reacquainting themselves with each other, discovering each other's regrets and unfulfilled desires. Alive with pathos, humour and insight.
Special Award, National Society of Film Critics Awards
Its simple city mouse-country mouse story involves the meeting of two former schoolmates as they prepare for a small-town concert. Enlivened by Passer's flair for grotesquerie, this unassuming masterpiece maintains a delicate balance between hilarity and despair.
- Elliott Stein, Village Voice
Source: HKIFF Czech New Wave 2006
