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Looking Back is part of the wave of films from the second half of the 1960s, which represented a critical reflection of the attitudes and actions of a generation dealing with the trauma of occupation and taking determined action in building socialism. It was guided by the motto, "When a forest is being cut down, chips fly." There were enough valid reasons for the film to end up in the vault and its author to be considered persona non grata. Even just the sarcastic question about the difference between a fascist and communist dictatorship, which is uttered by one of the characters, must have irritated the normalization approval committee to madness. On the other hand, the openness of the social statement as an evaluative criterion was important precisely at the time of the film's creation; after several decades, what should be decisive is how the film stands artistically. I have mixed feelings about Looking Back. The only thing that works perfectly is the black-and-white camera. The admired Čepek gives a routine performance, although in his case that means he is still a class above the rest. However, I actually didn't believe Jiřina Třebická in her role. She seemed oddly wooden and unnatural to me. If I didn't know her from several other films, I would think of her as a woman who missed her calling. Máša's direction is uncertain and the screenplay, with all due respect, is schematic. If Looking Back was meant to be a showcase of Máša's work, then I understand why the director didn't succeed after the circumstances changed. Overall impression: 40%. I wonder if it's perhaps the weakest film in its category... (31.03.2015)