Cultural reviews cover new novel Bača and film 6 gramů

Recent reviews highlight new releases in literature and film. Ben Belson's debut novel, Bača, is a gritty thriller set in the Slovak Eastern Carpathians. The story follows a shepherd whose life is disrupted by a group of deserting mercenaries near the border of Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. The novel is noted for its atmospheric depiction of the mountains and its exploration of moral dilemmas.

In cinema, the film '6 gramů,' directed by Miroslav Ondruš, received a critical review. The plot centers on the discovery of six grams of a white powder, suspected to be cocaine, in the rooms of students during a ski trip. The critique describes the film as a series of disconnected episodes lacking dramatic tension or character depth, despite a cast including Ondřej Vetchý and Jiří Mádl.