Filthy (Tereza Nvotova, 2017): Czech Republic | Slovakia

Reviewed by Madeline Englese. Viewed at Metropolitan Theaters in Santa Barbara, CA.

Filthy is a brutally honest film, leaving no stone unturned. It tells the story of seventeen year old Lena, who is sexually assaulted. She now has to navigate the waters of recovery and learn to address the trauma. In an emotional scene in the film Lena states “I don’t want to be another rape victim,” and she is not a victim, she is a survivor. This is a point made clear by director Tereza Nvotova. Our protagonist tackles an inadequate mental health system, doctors who don’t believe her story, and the slew of mental health issues that come from dealing with a trauma of this size and she comes out on top.

The movie was filmed at the largest mental health facility in Slovakia. The facility has remained relatively unchanged since communism and it showed, the once white building is now covered in dirt, and the facilities are unkept and un updated. The country has lacked mental health reform since the revolution, and there is no funding going towards mental health. All of this is touched on beautifully by Nvotova. As we watch the story through the perspective of not only Lena, but family, friends, therapists, doctors, and fellow survivors.

Leading actress Dominika Morávková gives a vulnerable and honest performance. She beautifully captures the unfortunate journey Lena finds herself on, allowing herself to be completely accessible in any moment. The films plot mirrors its self the way that Lena is always catching glances of herself, stylishly written by Barbora Namerova. The melancholy blue light floods scenes with sadness, then turns to tranquility to mirror the river that characters gaze upon. Yellow highlights keep a clam surround to the frames balancing the depressed emotion.

Although this is a sad story, it is not a sob story. The courage to speak on this controversy is inspiring and creates an extraordinarily powerful film. This movie gets into the nitty gritty of the healing process, and it doesn’t hold back. It’s touching, and relates to many women and men. I couldn’t recommend it more.