Lover, Not A Fighter

Bluesky

Slovak writer-director Martina Buchelová delivers a wry yet charmingly playful panoramic portrait about the state of her generation. Guided by a freeflowing narrative spirit, debut feature Lover, Not a Fighter tells of the the ill-fated romance of 20-year-old busybody Andrej (Adam Kubala) and Miša (Michaela Kostková).

At first glance, Andrej appears thoroughly insufferable. A figure who constantly acts as his own worst enemy. In his stumbling attempts to connect with Miša, he repeatedly sabotages himself through his unreliable nature and biting cynicism. It might not come as a surprise that beneath lies a vulnerable and troubled persona tortured by self-hatred, developing alcoholism and indifferent parental background. Thus, Andrej, lacking any direction, decides to move in with his caring grandmother (Jaroslava Pokorná). However his newly-found peace does not last long, since his cousin Peto (František Beleš), who is just as unravelled as him, also seeks refuge from the chaos of the outside world in granny’s warm embrace.

Meanwhile, we also get a glimpse into the family life of Miša, who possesses a more mature attitude yet is far from lacking in impulsiveness. As it turns out, her family is no more normal than Andrej’s; her father, for instance, is busy trying to liquidate the family fortune to build a bunker where they can ride out the apocalypse together.

An ever-growing cast of side-characters orbits the two young lovers, much like planets around the Sun. Buchelová spins her eccentric protagonists around their own axes with an absurdist humanism reminiscent of the humour of the Czechoslovak New Wave. It's an approach given an authentic ring by the refreshingly creative use of phone-shot footage, a frenetic editing pace and fantasies blending reality with lyrical restraint. As for the imaginary band living in Andrej’s wardrobe, they simultaneously embody the fragile, yearning nature of a childlike self not yet ready to grow up, while also representing fantasy as an escapist refuge from loneliness and self-destruction.

Every actor plays their character with great enthusiasm and dramatic flair. No matter how absurd or ridiculous the situation, they treat the character’s emotional world with the utmost seriousness. Yet, even alongside the excellent lead duo, Frantisek Beles absolutely steals the show as Peto – a sensitive soul whose stubbornness is matched by a heart of gold.

Although Lover, Not A Fighter is a decidedly funny film, it tackles a multitude of gut-wrenching themes. More than its erratic narrative structure and limited runtime can comfortably sustain. It is the child harassment storyline involving Miša’s younger sister, Mia (Mia Sofia Arpásova), in particular, that swings too violently away from the film’s established atmosphere. Especially considering that the depiction of the trauma the girl suffered ultimately leads up to nothing more than a punchline.

Nonetheless, we are witnessing the debut of a director with a bold cinematic voice: Instead of overdramatising young adult experiences, Buchelová offers a heart-wrenchingly familiar snapshot where chaos, love and sorrow coexist within a volatile emotional atmosphere.

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