Exciting U.S. Remake of Slovak Drama “Only Beautiful Things to Look At” in the Works

Slovak director Ivan Ostrochovský is preparing for a U.S. remake of his critically acclaimed drama “Only Beautiful Things to Look At”. The original film, unveiled at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, is set in the 1980s and delves into the life of a physician (portrayed by Aňa Geislerová) who begins questioning the forced sterilization of Romani women in the former Czechoslovakia. This narrative has a global relevance, articulates Ostrochovský.

One of Ostrochovský’s regular collaborators Katarína Tomková, who co-produced the film, has enrolled in the Global Media Makers Residency with Film Independent, focusing on the art of filmmaking in the U.S. He shared, “We have already conducted research and location scouting on Navajo Nation land in New Mexico, and we’re currently adapting the story to fit the local context. Between the 1970s and 1980s, the birth rate among Native Americans declined by an estimated 60%, and it’s believed that approximately 40% of Native American women were subjected to forced sterilization.”

Ostrochovský emphasized that they have been cautious about depicting the community as victims. His intention is to start a dialogue about the issues in Slovakia, a country that is yet to come to terms with its past and the maltreatment of the Romani community. He noted that forced sterilizations seeped into the 2000s, and the victims have begun seeking justice in court, albeit with little to no success.

Ostrochovský co-wrote the film with Marek Leščák and has been a feature of the Slovak cinematic landscape, already having released the Slovak Oscar submission “Servants.” Throughout the creation of his latest film, he reached out and interacted with doctors responsible for the sterilizations, noting a moral quandary despite their logical reasons.

Despite its grave subject matter, “Only Beautiful Things to Look At” promises to be his most accessible film yet, with well-known Czech actor Aňa Geislerová in the lead. He notes that using her allure allows them to reach diverse audiences unfazed by the difficult subject matter. Joining Geislerová is an ensemble of actors including Simona Boledovičová, Eva Mores, Vlad Ivanov, Éva Bandor and Attila Mokos.

In rendition with cinematographer Juraj Chlpík, Ostrochovský strived to visually encapsulate his characters' dilemmas, saying, “I wanted it to be pleasant to look at – also because it serves as a metaphor for the so-called ‘nice life.’ It means different things to different people.” He concludes by stating his intention was not to deliver another distressing Eastern European film, but to tell a story grounded in human behavior.