Slovakia

Two Slovakians share an obsession with a popular Czech singer and elect to send him a song in his honor. A charming and musical feature, Bells of Happiness juxtaposes a vivid depiction of an oppressed minority with Maria and Roman, who are entirely absorbed by the necessity to send a DVD to their idol. Short and sweet, and with little to distinguish it as narrative or documentary, the film’s two veteran directors empower this film with their deep understanding of the gypsy culture.

Fast paced, stylish and alluring, David Ondricek’s new film (Czechoslovakia’s entry to the 2012 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film) is a brilliant dissection of the abuses the Czech people received during the Communist era. With handsome, dark-toned cinematography, the film opens in the style of a 1950’s noir, following a couple of crooks stealing a cache of jewels. When the police show up, Captain Hakl (Ivan Trojan) believes that there’s more to the heist than meets the eye.

Slovakia’s 2013 Oscar submission offers a gritty look at a Slovak Romany girl’s sad trajectory from textile factory novice to sex worker. With no jobs available at home, naïve Dorotka travels to the Czech town of Ash, near the German border, where foreign girls like her toil long hours as seamstresses and live in crowded hostels. There she falls under the influence of her hustler roommate who pimps her to an unattractive, older German man, one of many who cross the border to sexually exploit the financially-strapped Eastern European women.