187. Charlatan; movie review

 

 

CHARLATAN

Cert 15

118 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong violence, language, nudity

There really was a healer of many thousands of people who could spot symptoms, diagnosis and cure just by holding their urine to the light?

And he was forced to help the Nazi hierarchy?

Well, yes. Jan Mikolášek 

Mikolášek was a Czech who was devoted to the belief that God had provided herbs to cure the sick.

But while many accepted that he had a special gift, he was also accused of misusing it to establish great wealth.

According to Agnieszka Holland's movie, Mikolášek won fame and fortune but he was also cruel, sadistic and only found love in one person - his assistant František Palko whom he treated like a dog.

The film focuses on the period during which the Czech communists tried to undo him, angry at how he has been able to continue with his private industry.

Ivan Trojan plays Mikolášek as a troubled man - compelled to fulfil what he believes is a calling as a healer while finding the simplest social interaction perplexing.

This is seen in how he tries to own Palko (Juraj Loj), selfishly ripping him from his family and forcing him to choose between his wife and both him and his career.

He also shows little manners to his patients - going through the basic routine of taking their bottle, staring at their urine, giving them a diagnosis and cure.

He doesn't do conversation and even acts in the same superior fashion to his inquisitors even when he is threatened with the death penalty.

Trojan's portrayal adds to his fascination - he plays him as a deeply conflicted man with inner rage. Meanwhile,  his son Josef plays the younger Jan so that the resemblance is not quite as uncanny as it might seem.

Mikolášek's story is stranger than fiction but he really did treat some of the world's most influential people by just looking at a bottle of their pee.

And yet, for his entire lifetime, he was described as a charlatan, even by his own father.

His tale is well told and prompts the viewer to be open-mouthed.

Reasons to watch: Intriguing true story

Reasons to avoid: Leaves unanswered questions

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Over the course of his career, Mikolášek claims to have treated five million people, some 150,000 per year. Clients allegedly included many celebrities such as King George VI of England.

The final word. Agnieszka Holland: "It is the story of the mystery of a man, of the mystery of his special gift, of the prize he was ready to pay for it; the story of the paradox of strength and weakness, of love and hate."

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