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What's After the Movie?
Historical drama

Charlatan (2021): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Charlatan (2021) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
86%
worldwide gross
$2.5M
Echo Score
76
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Charlatan (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 58m (118 min)
Genres
Drama , History
Original language
Czech
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

Also Starring in Charlatan

· 12 more
From the director

More from Agnieszka Holland

More films directed by Agnieszka Holland, best-rated first: Green Border, Burning Bush, Spoor and Shot in the Heart.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

76 /100

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.

Box office

Charlatan Box Office

Charlatan grossed $2.5 million worldwide.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.5M

International
$2.5M
Details

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
  • Şarlatan
  • Ο Τσαρλατάνος
  • שרלטן
  • Charlatão
  • Šarlatāns

Seen Charlatan?

FAQ

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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