Documentary 'Better Go Mad in the Wild' Follows Czech Hermit Twins in Surreal Portrait of Rural Isolation

A new documentary titled "Better Go Mad in the Wild" depicts the isolated lives of twin brothers living in a cabin in the Šumava mountains of the Czech Republic, according to a review published by The Guardian's culture section.

The film, directed by Miro Remo, follows František ("Franta") and Ondřej ("Ondra") Klišík, described in the review as men closing in on their 60s who farm a smallholding with the help of a bull named Nandy. According to the review, the documentary is narrated by a slaughtered bull and expands on a short story about the brothers written by Aleš Palán.

The Guardian's review characterizes the film as surreal, noting that Remo incorporates his own "fabulism and surrealism" into the depiction of the brothers' daily routines, which include drinking, arguing, and lamenting their lack of romantic prospects, as well as engaging in arm-wrestling matches.

According to the review, Franta, who lost an arm in a sawmill accident, is typically the winner of these contests despite his injury. The review describes Franta as possessing a more whimsical or "quixotic" personality compared to his brother, reciting poetry and working on constructing his own flying machine in the style of Leonardo da Vinci's historical designs.

The review quotes a line of dialogue in which Franta tells his brother, "Your aversion to my perpetuum is a little annoying," referring to his invention project, illustrating the tension and banter between the siblings depicted throughout the film.

The Guardian frames the documentary as exploring themes of isolation and unconventional wisdom, suggesting the brothers may be either "slowly going mad" or "closing in on enlightenment" through their remote lifestyle away from mainstream society.