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Ondrej Vetchý, Tara Fitzgerald, Oldrich Kaiser, Charles Dance, Anna Massey ... see more see more... , Krystof Hádek , Hans-Jorg Assmann

The friendship of two men is tested by war, political upheaval, and romantic rivalry in this drama from Czech filmmaker Jan Sverak, whose Kolya became an international success. Lt. Franta Slama (Ondre... read more read more...j Vetchy) is a top pilot in the Czech Air Force who is assigned to train a promising young flier, Karel Vojtisek (Krystof Hadek). Franta and Karel both share a great enthusiasm for the thrill of blazing across the sky, and they become fast friends; however, when Nazi Germany invades Czechoslovakia, Franta and Karel chafe under the authority of their new leaders, and they escape to England, where they join other Czech exiles in the R.A.F. While flying a mission over England, Karel crash lands and happens upon the farmhouse of Susan (Tara Fitzgerald), a young woman whose husband is in the Navy. Karel soon falls head over heels for Susan, but while they enjoy a brief fling, in time Susan decides she prefers the company of the older and more worldly Franta. As Franta and Karel struggle to maintain their friendship despite their romantic rivalry, the war finally comes to a close, and the Czechs return home. Trmavomodry Svet, released in English-speaking territories as Dark Blue World, also features Anna Massey and Charles Dance. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

81% liked it

3,547 ratings

Critics

62% liked it

58 critics

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Jan Sverák

Release Date: December 28, 2001

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DVD Release Date: May 28, 2002

Stats: 184 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (184)

  • flixsterman
    December 13, 2009
    flixsterman
    Compelling and well crafted movie that tells the little-known true story of heroic pilots for whom WWII never really ended.

    Krystof Hádek is outstanding, I continue to be impressed with the quality of Czech actors and films.
  • EbertsLittleApprentice
    August 25, 2010
    EbertsLittleApprentice
    Well unfortunately for the 2001 film "Pearl Harbor", I think I have found a film that beat it in being more engaging and more dramatic, despite a less-popcorn movie feel, and the non-100 million dollar budget!

    Dark Blue World, or (Tmavomodry svet), isn't going to win you with ... read morehigh priced action scenes and effects, but it will get you with a lucid story line, that is drenched in heartfelt dialouge and makes you feel pride.

    So what about the acting? Well of course this film is forgien and includes both Czech and English dialouge, but you can still really feel that they know what they are doing on screen and are just as good as our Hollywood counterparts, and maybe , especcialy in this film, maybe even better then some of them.

    The score was rather impressive , although it wasn't as good I expected, but rather still as good as I was hoping. It really meshed well in the right action scenes, mellowing out when it was a really good time for it to slow down.

    Yes, somehow this film kept me thouroghly enganged throughout, and I rather found this film as a little gem for my collection. I am not sure why, but this film is a film in which you never hear of it, but when you do, you can't stop not hearing about it, from yourself!
  • Lyndaofwirral
    January 4, 2011
    Lyndaofwirral
    A Czech film about Czech fighter pilots flying for the R.A.F in world war two, the immediate build up and the aftermath. I found it very interesting to see this inspiring and also tragic tale from a Czech perspective. Fans of war films will obviously like it but there's a great d... read moreeal here of a human and historical nature to fulfil a wider appeal too.
  • elziard
    December 2, 2007
    elziard
    exceeded my expectations based on poor reviews when it was released. the visuals - especially the fighters and the special effects - were great. it's a touching story and light with humor and frightening in it' reality. it suffers only in the love triangle plot point though it's ... read morenot done poorly, just unnecessary.
  • pstastny45
    July 30, 2006
    pstastny45
    An amazing movie that shows how the pride coming from WWII in czech pilots was During Communism...very nice fly fhightinh scenes RECOMEND!!!

View All Dark Blue World (Tmavomodrý svet) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Michael Wilmington
July 20, 2002
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

It's a fitting requiem for heroes forgotten. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
April 12, 2002
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

Looks like the Eastern European version of director Michael Bay's popcorn epic from last summer. Full Review

April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

Dark Blue World almost feels like three scripts rolled into one. Full Review

Jay Carr
April 5, 2002
Jay Carr, Boston Globe

A bittersweet world, and it's frankly one to which we've been before, but seldom do we see it rendered with such exquisite, if pained, craftsmanship.

Joe Baltake
March 1, 2002
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

More bleak and certainly more hushed than the relatively bombastic Pearl Harbor, but they both tell a war-movie plot staple in approximately the same way. Full Review

Steven Rea
February 28, 2002
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Pearl Harbor without the product placements, without the Hollywood bombast, and certainly without the $100-million-plus budget.

Stephen Hunter
February 8, 2002
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

Sverak has a great feeling for the glories of airplanes, and the technical resources in the picture are astounding. Full Review

Desson Thomson
February 7, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The movie's ambitions ... are not matched by the actual story. Full Review

Philip Wuntch
January 31, 2002
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

Its heart-tugs are mostly effective. Full Review

Susan Stark
January 25, 2002
Susan Stark, Detroit News

Takes a place alongside countless films that have given lasting life to one of the endless, invaluable stories yielded by World War II.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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