Why?

When it was made, Why? was a revelation with its openness and rawness. Speculations immediately arose that it was the director's final film and that he would be glad when he ended up working somewhere in an office. It's not Karel Smyczek's best work, but even years later, it is shocking with its naturalism and naming things by their real names. By the way, Smyczek was unhappy and mentally exhausted during those few weeks in a dirty, demolished wagon. However, some actors were in their element. For some, like Pavlína Mourková, who had previously played a good character in TV series, it was their first dramatic yet strongly negative role. In the late 80s, it was a cult film, but today it is unjustly forgotten. It's a decent piece that reminds us of how Czech stars began their careers. The problem of violence, by the way, hasn't disappeared; it's just that films are no longer made about it... Overall impression: 65%. (16/01/2008)

Despite the film's age, it’s still got it. The atmosphere was perfectly captured. I also liked the nice pro-regime street survey, which was like a carefully prepared game of questions and answers. However, what fascinated me most was that the film is still relevant even after thirty-three years. Perhaps even more so. I'm not talking about football 'fans', but rather about family relationships and 'childrearing.' (29/04/2020)

Here the form and the story fit together. It's actually a fiction documentary that follows one trial and goes back to why the trial happened in the first place. It's filmed with flashbacks, it's excellently edited together, and it shows how easy it is to get into trouble just because you support Sparta. But that's Sparta, isn't it... (05/12/2014)

Walk on! Walk on! Walk on, walk on, walk on! And you’ll never walk alone! This is Sparta! Or a cruel and raw insight into soccer fan ardor on the bleak, dark side. It is topical even today and most of the times the (non-)actors are convincing. Most of the time. And why shouldn’t they be when they were often playing themselves. Smyczek’s insight is realistic, chillingly funny and in many ways disturbing. But the most disturbing thing about it is that nothing has improved over the past twenty years, more like things are worse now. Why? (15/10/2007)