Kolya

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Kolya

PG-13

Released Jan 24, 1996

1h 45m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

96%

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25 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

As the Cold War winds down, former concert cellist Louka (Zdenek Sverák) barely makes ends meet providing accompaniment at funerals after being blacklisted from his much cushier job with the Prague Philharmonic. For a fee, he marries a Russian woman (Libuse Safránková) so she can become a Czech citizen, but she immediately emigrates to West Germany, sticking the bachelor with her sickly 5-year-old Kolya (Andrej Chalimon) and a host of official questions about the sham marriage.

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It is a work of love, beautifully photographed by Vladimir Smutny in rich deep reds and browns, with steam rising from soup and the little boy looking wistfully at the pigeons on the other side of the tower window.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Mike Clark

USA Today

As an Oscar nominee, Kolya lacks the cinematic dazzle of France's Ridicule. But no one can claim that its emotional clout isn't earned.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

Koyla is uplifting despite its familiar plot...

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 25, 2022

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Carrie R. Wheadon

Common Sense Media

Adorable kid transforms womanizer in poignant Oscar winner.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 25, 2012

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Jun 14, 2005

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Dragan Antulov

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Rated: 8/10

Mar 15, 2004

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Nicola B

Beautifully filmed and heartwarming.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/25

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dave s

When a 55-year-old Czech playboy agrees to a sham marriage for financial gain, he ultimately finds himself to be the sole guardian of a 5-year-old when his new wife suddenly leaves the country. Kolya manages to be sweet without being saccharin, an accomplishment for a film that has all of the trappings of a manipulative tearjerker. Director Jan Sverak relies more on images than excessive dialogue to show the developing relationship between the two primary characters. The movie features a beautiful score and some nice, softly lit cinematography, as well as solid performances from Zdenek Sverak as the stepfather and Andrej Chalimon as the wide-eyed Kolya. Is the whole thing predictable? Of course, but sometimes it's nice to know where you're going.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

ikiru y

It has a certain visual charm, but I'm surprised it got as many accolades as it did. It doesn't hold up well. Old bachelor learns to care for a young child...an old yarn you've seen before with no real surprises. Meh. Pass.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Well made but excruciating to watch

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

The Foreign Film Oscar winner from the Czech may not have a lot of originality, but possesses hefty emotional clout in its telling of the kindness of strangers and transformation caused by parenthood.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A quirky little story set in Prague and rural Czechoslovakia of 1989, with a musician who gets stuck with 5-year-old Russian Kolya surrounded by people who are not fond of Russians in general.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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Jan Sverák

Director

Zdenek Sverák

Louka

Andrej Chalimon

Kolja

Libuse Safránková

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Synopsis

As the Cold War winds down, former concert cellist Louka (Zdenek Sverák) barely makes ends meet providing accompaniment at funerals after being blacklisted from his much cushier job with the Prague Philharmonic. For a fee, he marries a Russian woman (Libuse Safránková) so she can become a Czech citizen, but she immediately emigrates to West Germany, sticking the bachelor with her sickly 5-year-old Kolya (Andrej Chalimon) and a host of official questions about the sham marriage.

Director: Jan Sverák
Producer: Eric Abraham, Jan Sverák
Screenwriter: Zdenek Sverák
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Czech
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 24, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.8M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR

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