On July 11, 2026, the film Only Beautiful Things to Look At premiered, shedding light on the Czechoslovakian government’s forced sterilization program targeting Roma women. Directed by Ivan Ostrochovský, the film evokes the 1980s Czechoslovakia, a time marked by systemic racism and state-sanctioned cruelty.
Exploring the Muffled Presentation of State-Sanctioned Cruelty
While Ostrochovský’s film is visually striking, its presentation feels dated, resembling a period drama from a bygone era. The film gives the impression of viewing history through museum glass, which diminishes the urgency of the atrocities depicted. By centering the narrative on a white female doctor, the film risks distancing itself from the real experiences of the Roma women affected by the sterilization policy.
The decision to focus on a single perspective leads to a sanitized portrayal of events, making it easier for audiences to view these historical injustices as relics of the past. This is particularly concerning given that the sterilization practices continued into the 21st century in both the Czech and Slovak Republics.
The Historical Context of Coerced Sterilization
The film’s backdrop is the 1980s, a period when the Czechoslovakian government actively suppressed the Roma population through coerced sterilization. This policy aimed to control the demographic makeup of the country, reflecting deep-seated racism and discrimination against the Roma community.
