Presented in collaboration with the Embassy of the Czech Republic, this series offers an invaluable opportunity to see the best of Czech cinema. A mixture of films for the upcoming series reflects the diversity and some of the best cinema of Czech directors. The films delve into interwoven relationships, comedic adventures and love stories, to more serious topics of courage and strength in the wake of adversity. All of the films are in Czech with English subtitles.
Wed, Feb 10, 8:00 pm:
Fighter
Director: Amir Bar-Lev, Director of Photography: Gary Griffin, 1999, 91 minutes, in English
Best Documentary award-winner “Fighter” is an extraordinary and moving recounting of a pair of extraordinary lives, told by the men that lived them.
~Mark Rabinowitz, Indiewire.com
An intimate collection of post-war memories, “Fighter” is a powerful, heartfelt and funny documentary that serves as a respectful nod to the aging survivors of WWII. Director Amir Bar-Lev’s feature debut gracefully examines the hardened souls of victims and provides many uplifting moments that will touch even the most cynical viewer.
~Michael Speier, Variety
Fighter follows two men, Jan Wiener and Arnost Lustig, survivors of Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia who now live in the US and are respected university professors. At the invitation of filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev they return to Europe with him. What Bar-Lev first envisions as a historical documentary soon becomes the personal story of the battle between two very different men–one the bitter, angry fighter, the other, the wise and cynical philosopher– who have very different ways of dealing with memories of the Holocaust.
As they retrace the steps of Wiener’s escape from the Nazis, they regale one another with thrilling exploits, revisiting scenes of romance, humor, of narrow escapes and life-or-death confrontations. But their journey soon becomes a contentious clash of personalities, and ultimately takes their friendship to the brink of collapse. Bar-Lev balances both personalities and interweaves their stories with footage from the Nazi and Communist occupations, allowing all the heartbreak, humor, and the larger questions that the film raises, to unfold naturally.
Awards:
Galway Film Festival 2000, Best Documentary Winner
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2000, Special Jury Citation
Hamptons International Film Festival 2000, Audience Award Winner
Newport International Film Festival 2000, Best Documentary Winner
Wed, Mar 10, 8:00 pm:
Normal, The Dusseldorf Ripper
Director: Julius Sevcik, 2009, 95 min, in Czech with English subtitles
Set in pre-war Europe, 1931, an economic crisis has propelled society into chaos. Young ambitious lawyer Justus Wehner gets his first big case—the defense attorney for brutal serial killer Peter Kurten. Wehner is certan that Kurten suffers from a serious mental disorder. To prove his theory, he decides to sink deep into Kurten’s past motivations and psyche. Kurten’s beloved wife Marie tells Wehner she doesn’t believe her husband could be a violent murderer. Kurten and Marie slowly begin to manipulate Wehner into participating in a final crime. Wehner will have to fight for victory in a difficult case and for his own soul.
Awards:
Shanghai International Film Festival 2009, Golden Goblet, Best Director (Julius Sevcik)
Wed, Apr 14, 8:00 pm:
Dirty Soul
Director: Milan Cieslar, 2004, 99 min, in Czech with English subtitles
This tragicomic mosaic of stories focuses on three siblings: 16-year-old Anna, 26-year-old Jana, and their half brother Vladimir, age 35. Each of them is looking for the right person to come into their lives, but this merely leads to fumbling through life in a muddle while repeating the same mistakes. Anna is very far from her ideal of flashy beauty, and she struggles to be perfect as self doubts gnaw at her. In her naiveté, she gets caught by the same snares that trapped her sister. The elder girl is tearing through life in the fast lane—towards her first divorce. None of them realizes just how similar their problems are to those of their mother and brother, a brother they as yet know nothing about.
Awards:
Nominated for a Czech Lion for Best Actress (Tatiana Vilhelmova).
Wed, May 12, 8:00 pm:
A Little Piece of Heaven
Director: Petr Nikolaev, 2005, 85 min, in Czech with English subtitles
A Little Piece of Heaven tells a story of love, friendship, and solidarit—aspects of life that allows us to live with dignity even at the most difficult of times. Set within the walls of a Communist prison of the 1950s, a tale unfolds of a young couple’s fragile love. Despite the period setting, the film is not political propaganda. First and foremost, it is a romance which shows that love will find a way even under the most dramatic of circumstances. An angry young man, Lubos always felt defiance toward everything around him, and eventually this trait lands him in court. The verdict is clear and the punishment long and hard. Even in prison, Lubos is unable to tame his love of jazz or the eternally blazing flame of rebellion he carries inside. Lubos meets Dana in prison. It’s not a real meeting, more of an encounter of looks, a flying of sparks which leads to feelings of love. Out of solidarity and support, their fellow prisoners hatch a small rebellion to help them fulfill their love—a love which has appeared in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Awards:
Five nominations for 2006 Czech Lion Awards: Best Cinematography, Best Music, Best Screenplay, Best Sound, Best Supporting Actor.
Wed, Jun 9, 8:00 pm:
Grapes 2
Director: Vlad Lanne, 2009, 95 min, in Czech with English subtitles
The Grapes 2 is the story of two young men. One is trying to integrate himself into the world of wine making, after inheriting his grandfather’s vineyard and wine cellar. The other has taken refuge at his friend’s after getting himself into trouble. Nothing goes like either wants it to go. They both have love problems. In a typical Moravian village, they attempt to keep the vineyard running and experience adventures which could cost them good wine, their women, and even life itself.
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