If you have ever been, or want to go to Prague, this film has to be rented. The film was better than I expected - the love story is a little contrived at times, and unbelievable, but overall, the film works well and both lead actors put in good performances... The story brings together several themes that run very deep in the blood of the Czech people...
12 Reviews
Prague at it's best
johnny-0823 May 2007
I liked this movie and I think that the plot is good. It's a story about love.Love between two very different people. On one side there is young doctor Lauren Graham (Gina Gershon) and on the other older book writer Jiri Kolmar (Rade Serbedzija). But what is really important is that love knows no limits. Age, nationality, past, nothing is important when two people are in love.
It's a great chance for Americans to meet Rade Serbedzija, one of the best Croatian actors. He is very good in this role, very calm and his emotions comes from his eyes. An excellent role. Gina Gershon is also good in her role. Why I liked this movie beside this things that I mentioned? It's because of Prague. I've been there three times but when I see it on film all my memories comes back again. Prague is magnificent city and it is perfect for filming a movie. All those old houses, streets, bridges, so beautiful and it's a perfect set for love story of this movie.
I recommend this movie. Because of Prague, good plot and good actors. See it and enjoy it.
It's a great chance for Americans to meet Rade Serbedzija, one of the best Croatian actors. He is very good in this role, very calm and his emotions comes from his eyes. An excellent role. Gina Gershon is also good in her role. Why I liked this movie beside this things that I mentioned? It's because of Prague. I've been there three times but when I see it on film all my memories comes back again. Prague is magnificent city and it is perfect for filming a movie. All those old houses, streets, bridges, so beautiful and it's a perfect set for love story of this movie.
I recommend this movie. Because of Prague, good plot and good actors. See it and enjoy it.
The sins of grandfather
jotix10014 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
An international conference being held in Prague invites Lauren Graham, an American child psychiatrist, to participate. She is a woman of a certain age, a scholar about the effects of what war does to children, with a no-nonsense attitude. She is surprised when a Czech writer, Jiri Kolmar, gets interested in showing her around the city. Passing an old Jewish cemetery, Lauren mentions in passing she might have relatives buried there. Jiri, who is Jewish, becomes intrigued by the fact her Jewish grandfather, Emil Kuvan, born in Czechoslovakia, and emigrated to America might have relatives who died in the concentration camps. Offering to take Lauren to the national registry she is told the only Emil Kuvan in the records was a child who died in one of the camps.
Jiri, who feels attracted to Lauren, is a divorced man being considered to a high position in the culture ministry. One day, while visiting Jiri's grandfather, Lauren notices Jiri's son with a greyhound that is the family's dog. She pulls a picture of her late grandfather to show him with his own greyhound, and the old man recoils in horror. The man in the picture he recognizes as a Nazi criminal, responsible for the death of Jews. Lauren is appalled as well. Being a public figure Lauren's finding is leaked to the press by opponents of Jiri's to assume the position he was offered. Lauren decides to go home to deal with what she learned in Prague.
This is a romantic film with a twist. Directed by Robert Simon, who co-wrote the screenplay with Sheryl Longin, it presents a plausible story in which two people who meet and fall in love, then find a horrible truth neither had dreamed it could come between them. The atrocities of a bygone era will always stay with the ones that suffered the most, in this case, Jiri's father who saw his family destroyed by the Nazi regime. The film ends in a positive note as Lauren appears she got over the awful truth she learned.
Gina Gershon makes a wonderful Lauren. Ms. Gershon deserves better roles than what she has been getting lately. She is a good presence in any film she graces. Same can be said about the male lead Rade Zerbedzija, who is a welcome presence on the screen. The film was shot in dark tones as befitting the winter in Prague, caught for the camera by Ivan Slapeta. Boris Zelkin is the composer of the score which works well with the narrative.
Jiri, who feels attracted to Lauren, is a divorced man being considered to a high position in the culture ministry. One day, while visiting Jiri's grandfather, Lauren notices Jiri's son with a greyhound that is the family's dog. She pulls a picture of her late grandfather to show him with his own greyhound, and the old man recoils in horror. The man in the picture he recognizes as a Nazi criminal, responsible for the death of Jews. Lauren is appalled as well. Being a public figure Lauren's finding is leaked to the press by opponents of Jiri's to assume the position he was offered. Lauren decides to go home to deal with what she learned in Prague.
This is a romantic film with a twist. Directed by Robert Simon, who co-wrote the screenplay with Sheryl Longin, it presents a plausible story in which two people who meet and fall in love, then find a horrible truth neither had dreamed it could come between them. The atrocities of a bygone era will always stay with the ones that suffered the most, in this case, Jiri's father who saw his family destroyed by the Nazi regime. The film ends in a positive note as Lauren appears she got over the awful truth she learned.
Gina Gershon makes a wonderful Lauren. Ms. Gershon deserves better roles than what she has been getting lately. She is a good presence in any film she graces. Same can be said about the male lead Rade Zerbedzija, who is a welcome presence on the screen. The film was shot in dark tones as befitting the winter in Prague, caught for the camera by Ivan Slapeta. Boris Zelkin is the composer of the score which works well with the narrative.
A haunting, thought-provoking film that has stuck with me
jderiel11 September 2004
I saw this film two years ago. It made a deep impression. I have been trying to see it again, but for some reason it is hard to find on video in this town.
This is a meaty, thought provoking movie wrapped around a nasty surprise. Gina Gershon (always a favorite of mine) gives us a great portrait of a respectable, complacent professional whose world disintegrates when she discovers that her identity is based on a lie.
Anyone who has ever tried sleuthing into their family history, or even just contemplated the blank spaces in it, will find this movie fascinating, and maybe a little scary. (Action fans will be disappointed....)
This is a meaty, thought provoking movie wrapped around a nasty surprise. Gina Gershon (always a favorite of mine) gives us a great portrait of a respectable, complacent professional whose world disintegrates when she discovers that her identity is based on a lie.
Anyone who has ever tried sleuthing into their family history, or even just contemplated the blank spaces in it, will find this movie fascinating, and maybe a little scary. (Action fans will be disappointed....)
Great Love Story, Cold Direction and Miscast
claudio_carvalho21 March 2022
The American child psychologist Dr. Lauren Graham (Gina Gershon) from the Michigan University travels to Prague to participate in a seminar with her friend Olivia Walton (Patricia Hodge). Lauren is a widow that lost her four-year old daughter for leukemia and her beloved grandfather helped Lauren and her daughter in the worst moments of her life. When she meets the famous dissident writer Jiri Kolmar (Rade Serbedzija), who will be the next Ministry of Culture of Czechoslovakia, they immediately fall in love with each other. Lauren wants to research the past of her grandfather and Jiri helps her, but they are unsuccessful in their search. Jiri proposes to marry Lauren and brings her to the birthday party of his father. When the old man sees the photo of Lauren's grandfather, he discloses dark secrets from the past to Jiri and Laure, affecting their lives.
"Prague Duet" is a feature film with a great love story but a cold direction. The great actor Rade Serbedzija should have never been cast as the romantic pair of the younger and younger Gina Gershon. The soundtrack is another plus in this good movie that could be better and better. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Muito Além da Paixão" ("Far Beyond the Passion")
"Prague Duet" is a feature film with a great love story but a cold direction. The great actor Rade Serbedzija should have never been cast as the romantic pair of the younger and younger Gina Gershon. The soundtrack is another plus in this good movie that could be better and better. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Muito Além da Paixão" ("Far Beyond the Passion")
Gina Gershon is great, but movie is boring
guox003210 October 2001
My god this movie is awfully boring. I am a big fan of Gina Gershon, when I rented this movie I expected a romantic drama, and some great performance from Gershon. Gershon is great as always, but she is not right actress for this role, she is too good for Rade Serbedzija. The romance between Gershon and Serbedzija's characters is too unconvincing. And I absolutely hated Serbedzija's character (a wonman organizer), he is not charming in anyway in the movie. How did Dr. Lauren Graham (Gershon) is beyond my comprehension. Maybe Sean Connery, Robert DeNiro or Harrison Ford would have done a better job on this role, but they don't have the European-ish looking I guess. Any way, I was so bored druing the movie. If you are looking for a good Gina Gershon movie, check out Bound, her best film so far. If you are looking for a romantic film about a younger woman and an older man, try some Harrison Ford or Sean Connery movies. Gina Gershon is so underrated, and she deserves better chance than this, I wish her to make better choice in the future.
Great film about past secrets
MikeAdel31 January 1999
I had never heard of this movie, but since I am going to Prague this summer, I wanted to check it out. I was very surprised. This is a deep romantic movie of a woman who falls in love with a former Czech dissident writer, only to have their love tested by a family secret from the woman's past. This is an outstanding movie. Gina Gershon looks good and acts great. I highly recommend it!
EXCELLENT!
rayleenmyers31 July 2002
I've searched for this movie for months after having see a portion of it on TV....could not find it under the name Prague Duet. My son (an actor)was doing some work on my computer and told me about your site. I asked him to do a search. He did he said, "Have you looked under the title of Lies and Whispers?" I said no....he checked, found it, then located a copy for me ordered it for me on the spot.....I've had it for 3 days..and I've watched it twice...........sometimes a movie just grabs you. It doesn't hurt to have an incredibly good looking man with a beard AND an accent!!!!!!!
Did not hold our attention. Boring.
nz man21 April 2000
I've been to Prague and loved it (the most beautiful city in Europe). I also thrive on seeing a good romance movie. And the two main actors at least looked great.
But my wife fell asleep and I stopped the movie after 20 minutes or so.
Disappointing, but since there are some positive comments on this page, you might want to try it yourself - then come back here and tell us what you think, OK?
But my wife fell asleep and I stopped the movie after 20 minutes or so.
Disappointing, but since there are some positive comments on this page, you might want to try it yourself - then come back here and tell us what you think, OK?
Love overcomes all!
trickrider21 October 2002
I rented the movie because I love Gina Gershon. Aside from being a very fine underrated actress she is also an incredibly beautiful woman! The movie did start out slow but the scenery was incredible! By the time the story took hold I was captivated by both leads and in the end the story left me satisfied. It works on every level. It is both informative and romantic. The ending is very sweet too. It is worth spending 2 hours watching it.
Nice movie
dorithca1 June 2009
I turned on the TV and it just happened to be this film. I had never heard of Gina Gershon before. I agree with Zoltan. I liked the film, but really it got so annoying that she hardly ever completely closed her mouth. Very irritating! Otherwise it was enjoyable and it was interesting to learn that Gina is Jewish (if you see the movie, you will understand why I mention this). Prague is indeed a very beautiful and interesting city and a good place for romance. I myself have a Tsjechian (spelling?)grandmother and great-grandparents, although I never met them. When you see the movie, perhaps you will be able to understand why. Greetings from Dorith
Loved it
zoltan-130 September 2003
Two thumbs up in our household: we enjoyed the story a lot, probably in part because we both know Prague and are familiar with Eastern Europe. This film raises excellent questions and haunts you in a way. I discovered Gina Gershon and was impressed by her charisma. Just wish she could close her mouth sometimes (it remains open in 98% of the film in a distracting manner, as if she was constantly pouting!) but I definitely want to check out her other films.
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