The next SMLC Film Club screening will take place on Wednesday 28th January. We will show Better Go Mad in the Wild [Raději zešílet v divočině] (2025), a documentary film directed by Miro Remo. The film will be in Czech with English subtitles.

 

Better Go Mad in the Wild had its premiere at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in July 2025, where it was awarded the Crystal Globe. See the trailer here.

 

This month's film was suggested by Jan Čulík. Below is some further info, provided by Jan:

 

"Better Go Mad in the Wild!

 

Come and watch a remarkable film on 28th January 2026 about two ageing twins, critics, provocateurs, philosophers and poets living on a semi-derelict farm somewhere in the Czech mountains. The film was featured in the main competition at this year's Karlovy Vary international film festival and I thought it was the best film I saw there this year. And, lo and behold, it then won the main prize!! And Karlovy Vary is no parochial, local festival, it has a high class international jury and it often gives prizes to top American actors and directors, who attend the festival. 

 

The film "Better Go Mad in the Wild!" is a documentary (?) study of two old men, twins, who are highly intelligent, provocative, shocking, thoughtful, philosophical  and poetic.

 

Both men, twins, are reportedly in their sixties, but they are worn out by years of physical labour, smoking, and, in one case, apparently drinking, so they both look like they are in their eighties. They have lived for many years on their farm in Šumava, together with a bull (which they kill when it attacks them), chickens, a dog, and a cat in a house and environment that is incredibly messy.

 

I find the film incredibly Czech in its own way. What is Czech above all is the terrifying mess everywhere on that rural farm, whether it's the half-collapsed fences, the shed, the torn tablecloth on the kitchen table, the torn bedspread, everything. Both of these old men also seem incredibly Czech to me, with their penetrating, provocative intelligence and their humor, which defines them as complete individualists, against everything. In addition to humor, they also have a poetic talent – they repeatedly quote from memory in the film, apparently their own poetry. It deals with life and death.

 

And, of course, both men fear death. This film is truly profound and has a strong existential feel to it. Intelligent, ironic, provocative old men live as best they can, but they don't really know why or for what purpose. We don't know why we are here, life is absolutely short, it is fleeting nonsense, and then we die, says one of them. The film is extremely attractive because it cleverly deals with something that concerns us all.

 

And one final, somewhat shocking note. After the two twin brothers were duly feted at the film festival in July 2025, along with the director, one of the two twin brothers suddenly died a day after the festival."

 

 

The screening will take place as usual in 42 Bute Gardens Lecture Theatre 718. 

 

Doors open 5.50pm

Screening starts 6pm 

 

Everyone is welcome — attendance is free.