By using the parrot as a "living relic," Zelenka explores how historical truth is often subjective and politically inclined. Critical Reception
The story begins with a 90-year-old African Grey parrot that once belonged to French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier, a key figure in the 1938 Munich Agreement.
It holds an 85% rating from some top users on ČSFD and an 8/10 from many reviewers on Letterboxd , who highlight its "deceptive brilliance". Lost in Munich (2015) - IMDb Lost in Munich - Ztraceni v Mnichove [2015 - Cz...
The parrot is brought to Prague, where it starts spouting Daladier's original anti-Czech insults, leading to its kidnapping by a desperate journalist and sparking a massive diplomatic crisis.
It is frequently compared to François Truffaut's Day for Night for its deep, often cynical, look at the messy reality of low-budget filmmaking. By using the parrot as a "living relic,"
The film was highly acclaimed in its home country, winning Best Film of 2015 by Czech critics and being selected as the Czech entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.
Reviewers from The Hollywood Reporter describe it as a "mischievous mix of farce and tragedy" that is "much smarter than it first appears". However, some critics at EEFB found the "industry in-jokes" a bit elitist or alienating to some audiences. Lost in Munich (2015) - IMDb The parrot
Mid-way through, the film reveals that this "parrot story" is actually a failed, unfinished production. The second half of the movie becomes a mock-documentary about the disastrous filming process, plagued by budget issues, fake French partners, and onset accidents. Themes & Style