Do You Remember Dolly Bell?

This Czech film from director Emir Kusturica gives a distinctly European (third-world European, for that matter) look at a young man's sexual awakening. Before you roll your eyes and say "Oh, just what we need another one of those kind of films", realize that when Americans tell this kind of story it inevitably turns out like American Pie. It is trivialized and made the brunt of some juvenile gross-out humor. In Europe, however, it is taken more seriously and treated with respect. Don't misunderstand me, it's not a great a film, but it is similar in feel to some great films such as the Czech classic, Closely Watched Trains or Nikita Mikhalkov's Burnt By the Sun. It has a distinctly Slavic feel, everything from the visuals, to the dreary environment, and the father who spends most of the film proclaiming the virtues of Marx, though I get the feeling that it's because of Marx that he's sufferring. Dolly Bell is the actress/entertainer that our young hero falls in love with, and it's a kind of touching romance.