Charlatan (2021): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Charlatan is a 2021 historical drama directed by Agnieszka Holland, starring Ivan Trojan as Jan Mikolásek, Martin Sitta and Jan Vlasák. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $2.5 million worldwide. Critics gave it 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 58m (118 min)
- Director
- Agnieszka Holland
- Original language
-
Czech
- Studio
- Strand Releasing
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Charlatan About?
The premise of Charlatan without spoilers.
In 20th century Czechoslovakia, the renowned healer Jan Mikolášek gained fame for his unique "urinary diagnosis" method, attracting celebrity clients and considerable wealth. However, his public image concealed a complex and troubling nature, where a desire to heal was intertwined with cruelty and sadism. As a show trial approaches, the future of František, Jan’s only connection to redemption, becomes precarious, forcing him to confront the conflicting forces driving his life and the consequences of his choices.
Charlatan Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- urine sample
- cigarette smoking
- dog
- urinating in front of someone
- gay sex scene
- closeted homosexual
- closeted gay
- gay protagonist
- gay character
- male frontal nudity
- male nudity
- male rear nudity
+38 more Show fewer
- gay sex
- man wears an open shirt
- brief male frontal nudity
- male full frontal nudity
- gay kiss
- same sex kiss
- younger version of character
- coworker coworker relationship
- herbalist
- healer as protagonist
- herbalist as protagonist
- politics
- job interview
- persecution
- courtroom
- trial
- countryside
- illness
- urine
- disbelief
- sexual attraction
- trauma
- traumatized man
- traumatized protagonist
- arrest
- pubic hair
- coffin
- carrying a coffin
- central european history
- prague czechoslovakia
- outcast
- social outcast
- black and white scene
- colleague colleague relationship
- postwoman
- courthouse
- sanatorium
- clinic
Charlatan Cast & Characters
Ivan Trojan leads the cast as Jan Mikolásek, with Martin Sitta as General and Jan Vlasák as Mikolásek's janitor. Directed by Agnieszka Holland; 16 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Agnieszka Holland
- Ivan Trojan as Jan Mikolásek
- Martin Sitta as General
- Jan Vlasák as Mikolásek's janitor
- Jaroslava Pokorná as Mühlbacherová
Also Starring in Charlatan
· 12 more- Joachim Paul Assböck
- Juraj Loj Frantisek Palko
- Josef Trojan Young Jan Mikolásek
- Barbora Milotová Nurse
- Jirí Cerný Zlatohlávek - duty solicitor
- Ladislav Kolár President Zápotocky
- Miroslav Hanus Interrogator
- Claudia Vaseková
- Jana Olhová
- Marek Epstein
- Martin Mysicka
- Martina Babisova
More from Agnieszka Holland
More films directed by Agnieszka Holland, best-rated first: Green Border, Burning Bush, Spoor and Shot in the Heart.
Charlatan Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Charlatan 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 76/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in story & flow (65).
Charlatan Echo Score Breakdown
Charlatan presents a thoughtful yet uneven portrait that resonates more through its thematic ambition than through flawless execution. Critics acknowledge the film's willingness to explore moral contradictions, while some note the narrative's lack of clear resolution. Performances and visual moments draw praise, yet direction and pacing occasionally hinder engagement. The result is a work that offers rewarding insights for attentive viewers despite its structural flaws, positioning it as a moderately strong entry in biographical cinema.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
In terms of direction and visual composition, the film displays a classic aesthetic supported by lively cross‑cutting and striking scenography. Positive remarks highlight the production design’s occasional beauty, while criticism points to moments of erratic direction that disrupt cohesion. The editing contributes to a dynamic rhythm, yet inconsistencies prevent a uniformly polished finish. Overall, the artistic craftsmanship leans toward solid competence with room for refinement.
- Character & Emotion 90
When it comes to character and emotional depth, the performances are widely regarded as the film’s strongest asset. Actors deliver nuanced portrayals that capture the protagonist’s contradictions, earning descriptors such as mesmerizing and intriguing. The chemistry among the cast supports the exploration of complex moral terrain. Although some view the study as confused, the overall consensus underscores a compelling emotional core that anchors the narrative.
- Story & Flow 65
Regarding plot coherence and pacing, the film elicits mixed reactions. Reviewers note an ambitious, unconventional structure that probes ethical ambiguity, yet several find the narrative fragmented and overly stretched. The story’s originality is praised, but its execution sometimes leaves audiences unsatisfied with unresolved curiosity. Consequently, the storyline scores moderately, reflecting both its inventive premise and its occasional lack of narrative clarity.
- Sensory Experience 70
In the sensory domain, the film offers moments of striking visual texture, from vivid scenery to more muted, grey passages that underscore tonal shifts. While the soundtrack is not prominently discussed, the overall visual style contributes to an immersive atmosphere. Positive feedback emphasizes the effective use of color and composition, though the variability in visual intensity prevents a uniformly high assessment. The sensory experience is therefore moderately strong.
- Rewatch Factor 68
Assessing rewatch potential, the film’s layered contradictions and thematic depth encourage repeat viewings for deeper insight. Critics appreciate its willingness to embrace complexity, yet noted narrative scatter may deter some audiences from returning. The performances and visual nuances provide content worth revisiting, but the uneven pacing limits universal appeal. Overall, the rewatch factor is modestly positive, suggesting a film that rewards attentive, subsequent viewings.
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IMDb 6.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 86% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 36%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 66 Metascore
User score 6.3
See on Metacritic -
Letterboxd 3.3 /5
10 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Charlatan Box Office
Charlatan grossed $2.5 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$2.5M
- International
- $2.5M
Charlatan Also Known As
17 alternative titles, including “Szarlatan” and “Sarlatan”.
- Also known as
-
- Szarlatan
- Sarlatan
- Sarlatán
- Le Procès de l'herboriste
- Šarlatán
- 샬러턴
- Шарлатан
- O Charlatão
- Charlatan - Il potere dell'erborista
- 秘藥
- 江湖医生
- Charlatán
+5 more Show fewer
- Şarlatan
- Ο Τσαρλατάνος
- שרלטן
- Charlatão
- Šarlatāns
Seen Charlatan?
Movies Like Charlatan
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Arvéd, Bestiář and Charuga.
Charlatan FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Charlatan, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Charlatan?
Charlatan runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).
When was Charlatan released?
Charlatan was released on July 23, 2021.
Who directed Charlatan?
Charlatan was directed by Agnieszka Holland.
More films by Agnieszka Holland Who is in the cast of Charlatan?
Charlatan stars Ivan Trojan as Jan Mikolásek, Martin Sitta as General and Jan Vlasák as Mikolásek's janitor, among 16 credited actors.
How much did Charlatan make at the box office?
Charlatan grossed $2.5 million worldwide.
How is Charlatan rated?
Charlatan has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 66 on Metacritic and 3.3/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Charlatan have a post-credit scene?
No. Charlatan has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Charlatan in?
The original language of Charlatan is Czech.
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