This is the story of Jan Mikolášek, a faith and herbal healer (and not a doctor by his own admission). He could diagnose anyone's condition by just looking at their urine sample and treat them with herbs and plants. The setting is post war Europe, so you see the diseases spread throughout. The film is seen in multiple flashbacks starting with death of Czech president who also was apparently treated by Jan Mikolášek. He was arrested in the later part of life and was sentenced for imprisonment and we see through flashbacks his initial formative years. How Jan found an old lady and learned the tricks of trade from her using his natural gifts. His formative years of meeting František Palko, a younger married man, who offers Mikolášek unwavering loyalty and discretion through his boss’s most ethically dubious business decisions. An erotic current between the men is clear from their first scene together, though an eventual secret romance between them.
The film doesn't bring a closure and leaves many unanswered questions in viewers mind, especially like me who don't know much about his story. Why did Jan blame his lover for the medicine mix up? What was there final punishment? Why did the authorities really arrest them. Someone practicing herbal treatments can't be the only reason. Was it because of suspicion of connections to Hitler, since apparently he was also a patient at some point. Maybe! But things were never made very clear and apparent. Apparently the gay relationship between Jan and Palko is not confirmed, but the makers have taken the liberty to showcase it given that they two men had failed marriages and lived together. The only poignant moments in the film come when the two are together. As a biography, I think the film does well, but how I wish there was a bit more to things, about him as a person and delve more into his psyche and talent. Mikolášek is a manipulative and distant character who’s willing to do whatever it takes to help people survive, himself most of all. His relationship with František is tender at times, but also built atop a twisted power dynamic that taints the whole affair. It feels left a a bit superficial. As far as the performances go, the two lead actors do a fantastic job and are really really good.
Charlatan is a film that does not quite satisfy the curiosity it arouses. It becomes entangled in its conflicting mesh of traits and time periods and a botch climax. (5/10)
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