Servants (2020)

As a piece of filmmaking, 'Servants' is certainly impressive, filled with striking cinematography and flashes where we glimpse the strange, surreal world behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia. What is even more beguiling about the film is reminding one's self that this is set in 1980, the very recent past. The world we see feels captured in time, a vision of a post-war world rather than a more contemporary one. Unfortunately, full advantage of these elements is never taken up, and in the end, 'Servants' also feels like an unfinished film, an idea taken to a certain point but never given the opportunity to fully grow. It's a pity, because all the hallmarks are there of an intriguing film and an intriguing filmmaker.

• Daniel Lammin

Read Daniel's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-servants-an-austere-glimpse-behind-the-iron-curtain-in-czechoslovakia