VELVET ®EVOLUTION / THE BEST OF CZECH CINEMA 1989–2009

CZECH CENTRE PRESENTS

VELVET ®EVOLUTION THE BEST OF CZECH CINEMA 1989–2009

7–15 NOVEMBER 2009 PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA / RIVERSIDE STUDIOS LONDON

WWW.CZECHCENTRE.ORG.UK

VELVET ®EVOLUTION

This retrospective of Czech cinema cherry picking the best of Czech films from the past 20 years is a part of a major season organized by the Czech Centre London entitled Velvet ®Evolution celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.

THE BEST OF CZECH CINEMA 1989–2009 Peter Hames Film Critic Author of The Czechoslovak New Wave

cover image: Return of the Idiot

After the fall of Communism in 1989, it took a few years for Czech cinema to adjust to a denationalised film industry and the new demands of the market. But by 2008, Czech films had achieved a domestic market share second only to France. Over the past twenty years, a generation of new directors has also attracted attention – Petr Zelenka, Jan Hřebejk, Jan Svěrák, and Bohdan Sláma among them – while veterans such as Jan Švankmajer have continued to produce highly innovative work. This selection includes many of the best, ranging from the Oscar-nominated Divided We Fall to Švankmajer’s extraordinary version of the folk tale, Little Otik. The programme also features a number of films making their British debuts, including Sláma’s Country Teacher and Karel Vachek’s challenging survey of the state of the nation in Bohemia Docta. From the absurd perspectives of Zelenka’s Buttoners to the poetic observation of Saša Gedeon’s Return of the Idiot, from the Formanesque observation of Morávek’s Bored in Brno to the human touch of Michálek’s Autumn Spring, the programme provides a journey through a society in transition, but also one with a strong awareness of its cultural traditions.

The Karamazovs SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PM PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA 7 LEICESTER PLACE LONDON WC2 BOX OFFICE: 0870 811 2559 PETR ZELENKA, CZECH REPUBLIC / POL AND 2008, 100’ (IVAN TROJAN, IGOR CHMEL A, DAVID NOVOTNÝ)

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A Prague theatre company arrives in Krakow with a stage adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov to be presented in a local steelworks. As rehearsals progress, we observe story lines from the real world, of the cast and of a single worker who observes them. The issues of faith, immortality, and salvation cross borders as the film moves between its alternating perspectives. Focussing on the trial scenes, the film examines the subject of patricide, the complicity of the three younger Karamazovs and the supposedly illegitimate Smerdyakov.

CZECH LION 2008 – BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR IFF KARLOVY VARY 2008 – INTERNATIONAL FILM CRITICS AWARD (FIPRESCI)

Introduction and Q&A with director Petr Zelenka In collaboration with the Polish Cultural Institute

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Loners

Country Teacher

THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER / 6.25 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

DAVID ONDŘÍČEK, CZECH REPUBLIC / SLOVENIA 2000, 104’ (MIKUL ÁŠ KŘEN, JIŘÍ MACHÁČEK, L ABINA MITEVSKA)

BOHDAN SL ÁMA, CZECH REPUBLIC / FRANCE / GERMANY 2008, 120’ (PAVEL LIŠKA, ZUZANA BYDŽOVSKÁ, L ADISL AV ŠEDIV Ý)

Seven Prague-based characters looking for love find themselves alone in this offbeat, engaging generation comedy. A very fresh and spontaneous film full of dreamlike absurdity enhanced by the haze of marijuana.

Zelenka’s witty script exploiting and linking situations similar to those in Buttoners (watch out for the Japanese encounter with Czech family life!) is supported by Ondříček’s distinctive visual style. Full of off-beat music and catchy phrases, this is a winner with the younger generation.

A gifted young teacher looking for love leaves the city to teach natural science in the country. He befriends local farmer Marie but falls in love with her unruly 17-year old son and chooses not to tell her, fending off her advances. The rural idyll is shattered when his jealous ex-boyfriend turns up and sets in motion a series of events testing the strength and compassion of all three main characters to breaking point. A beautifully shot, powerfully acted story of desire, responsibility, forgiveness and the need to belong.

CZECH LION 2000 – BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

CZECH LION 2008 – BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST ACTRESS

Introduction and Q&A with director Bohdan Sláma *Offer applies to 18+ only.

Buttoners

Something Like Happiness

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER / 6.25 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

PETR ZELENKA, CZECH REPUBLIC 1998, 104’ (JIŘÍ KODET, RUDOLF HRUŠÍNSKÝ, EVA HOLUBOVÁ)

BOHDAN SL ÁMA , CZECH REPUBLIC 2005, 102’ (ANNA GEISLEROVÁ, PAVEL LIŠKA, TATIANA VILHELMOVÁ)

A black comedy about ordinary people who bargain with fate at the end of the 20th century. It’s a funny film about spitting on trains, bad weather, the atom bomb, shooting human sperm into space, infidelity and people who have killed other people. A kaleidoscope of eccentric characters makes up a picture of a cruel world where everything is connected with everything else and events seem to repeat themselves.

A poignant drama examining the intertwining stories of three childhood friends trying to find their place in life. Monika has a boyfriend in the US and plans to emigrate. Toník loves her and lives with his aunt on rundown farm. Dáša has got two children. When Dáša suffers a breakdown and is confined to a psychiatric ward, they take charge of her children and new opportunities open up…

CZECH LION 1997 – BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR GRAND PRIX AT AT THE ROTTERDAM AND BERGAM FILM FESTIVALS

CZECH LION 2005 – BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST ACTRESS, BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, BEST ACTOR WINNER AT SAN SEBASTIAN AND MONTREAL FILM FESTIVALS 2005

Introduction and Q&A with director Bohdan Sláma

Bohemia Docta or The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart (Divine Comedy) SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER/ 1.30 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS KAREL VACHEK, CZECH REPUBLIC 2000, 254’ (EGON BONDY, VRATISL AV BRABENEC, IVAN MARTIN JIROUS)

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The fringes of politics and mushrooms feature in this portrait of ’national character and soul’ reflecting the shifts in Czech democracy after 1989.

Handheld cinema vérité is combined with staged sections and the often provocative director provides the uniting element through its episodic structure which is based on conversations. The film experiments with the idea of creating a new state and a new government and raises questions about the future of Czech society as well as individuals. The third part of an extraordinary philosophical tetralogy Small Capitalist.

This is the first UK presentation of work by a doyen of Czech documentary filmmaking, Karel Vachek.

MFDF JIHLAVA 2000 – BEST CZECH DOCUMENTARY FILM

Bored in Brno

Return of the Idiot

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER / 6.30 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER / 8.35 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

VL ADIMÍR MORÁVEK, CZECH REPUBLIC 2003, 104’ (JAN BUDAŘ, MIROSL AV DONUTIL, KATEŘINA HOL ANOVÁ).

SAŠA GEDEON, CZECH REPUBLIC 1999, 99’ (PAVEL LIŠKA, ANNA GEISLEROVÁ, TATIANA VILHELMOVÁ)

Standa doesn’t want to be a virgin any more and is preparing for his first real date. A middle-aged psychologist meets a local TV soap star, nicknamed General Orgasm, but no longer in his sexual prime. Honza secretly loves his friend Pavel and there is also likable Jaroslava, who is unlucky in her choice of men. This intertwining story of four couples planning to make love on a Saturday night full of farcical situations has reached cult status amongst Czech audiences.

František, the hero of this beautifully observed gentle comedy, loosely inspired by Dostoyevsky’s character, can’t orientate himself in a world full of love as well as hypocrisy and deceit. He has just been released from a mental hospital and experiences everything for the first time while living with distant relatives. Entangled in conflicts and revelations between lovers, siblings and parents he often lands in awkward, funny and embarrassing situations. Feeling for everybody and touched by everything, he understands them better than they understands themselves.

CZECH LION 2003 – BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST ACTOR

CZECH LION 1999 – BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST SOUNDTRACK, BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

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Hell with the Princess

Autumn Spring

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 2 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS ADMISSION: £3.50 ALL

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER/ 3.55 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

MILOSL AV ŠMÍDMAJER, CZECH REPUBLIC 2009, 96’, IN CZECH ONLY (TEREZA VOŘÍŠKOVÁ, JIŘÍ MÁDL, PETR NÁROŽNÝ)

A brand new fairy tale about beautiful princess Anette and her doting father, clumsy Prince Jeronym to whom Anette is betrothed, and hell full of devils led by Lucifer and his jealous fiancée Muribana. When it comes to the wedding the human and devils’ worlds clash and it is only thanks to Jeronym’s courage that there is a happy conlusion.

Fancy dress screening for princesses and devils followed by a creative workshop In collaboration with Kids’ Art Club – Czech School without Borders

VL ADIMÍR MICHÁLEK, CZECH REPUBLIC 2001, 95´ (VL ASTIMIL BRODSKÝ, STELL A ZÁZVORKOVÁ, STANISL AV ZINDULKA)

An uplifting comedy about a retired couple, Fanda and his wife, Emílie.

Fanda and his friend, Eda like to spend their time playing elaborate practical jokes. From Emílie’s viewpoint, he is refusing to accept the realities of his age; she is more concerned with the possibility of moving to a retirement home and saving up for their funerals. When Fanda robs their funeral fund to pay off his debts, they are forced to re-evaluate. An actors’ masterclass in the art of understated comedy.

CZECH LION 2001 – BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST ACTRESS, BEST ACTOR, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR BEST FILM AT FINÁLE PLZEŇ 2002 AND IFF CLEVELAND 2002 (USA)

Divided We Fall

Little Otik

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 6 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 8.20 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

JAN HŘEBEJK, CZECH REPUBLIC 2000, 117’ (BOLEK POLÍVKA, ANNA ŠIŠKOVÁ, JAROSL AV DUŠEK)

JAN ŠVANKMAJER, CZECH REPUBLIC / UNITED KINGDOM / JAPAN 2001, 127’ (KRISTINA ADAMCOVÁ, JAN HARTL, VERONIKA ŽILKOVÁ)

An ordinary Czech couple wants to survive the German occupation during the WWII as unobtrusively as possible. Their situation is complicated not only by frequent visits of their collaborator friend but also by the Jew hidden in their larder. In order to divert any suspicion they try to fit in and are accused of collaborating. As the war is near its end their initial burden becomes their protection. Based on true story this is a black comedy full of sympathy for human weaknesses.

A comedy horror by surrealist Jan Švankmajer based on the classic Czech fairy tale of the same name, but transferred to contemporary Prague.

A childless couple decides to raise a voracious tree stump as a substitute for the child they so desire but cannot have. When ’Otik’ comes to life he develops a lethal appetite. A deliciously dark satire on parental love combining acted scenes with animation full of nightmare visions.

CZECH LION 2000 – BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST ACTRESS, BEST ACTOR NOMINATED FOR THE ACADEMY AWARD FOR THE BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

CZECH LION 2001 – BEST FILM

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Peter Sís: The Wall; Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

Heroes Like Us

SUNDAY 9–29 NOVEMBER RIVERSIDE STUDIOS ADMISSION FREE

Klaus Uhltzscht, the son of a secret police officer was never expected to make a significant contribution to the fall of socialism. He has never done anything his teachers or television warned him against waiting his whole life for a big task An adaptable supporter of the State, he follows in his father’s footsteps until the Wall comes along. Now his past is haunting him and he a wants to talk about it.

An exhibition of illustrations from an award-winning book by Peter Sís, a Czech illustrator based in New York, providing a highly personal and imaginative account of life behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. Through annotated illustrations, journals, maps, and dreamscapes, Peter Sís shows what life was like for a child who loved to draw, proudly wore the red scarf of a Young Pioneer and believed whatever he was told to believe.

PART OF THE VELVET ®EVOLUTION 1989–2009 SEASON SEE WWW.CZECHCENTRE.ORG.UK FOR DETAILS

24 NOVEMBER / 7.30 PM RIVERSIDE STUDIOS BOX OFFICE: 020 8237 1111 ADMISSION: £12 (£9 CONCS)

From Thomas Brussig’s award winning novel Heroes like Us adapted and directed by Kamila Polívková. With Jiří Štrébl and Tereza Hofová. In Czech with English subtitles. 90 mins.

PRESENTED BY THE PRAGUE CHAMBER THEATRE AND THE CZECH CENTRE LONDON PART OF THE FEEAST 09’ & VELVET ®EVOLUTION 1989–2009 SEASON

CALENDAR OF EVENTS SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PM The Karamazovs PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER / 6.30 PM Bored in Brno RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

Q&A with Petr Zelenka

THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER / 6.25 PM Loners RIVERSIDE STUDIOS THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PM Country Teacher RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER / 8.35 PM Return of the Idiot RIVERSIDE STUDIOS SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 2 PM Hell with the Princess RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

Q&A with Bohdan Sláma

Fancy Dress event followed by a workshop.

Admission: £3.50

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER / 6.25 PM Buttoners RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 3.55 PM Autumn Spring RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PM Something Like Happiness RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 6 PM Divided We Fall RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

Q&A with Bohdan Sláma

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER / 1.30 PM Bohemia Docta …

RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 8.20 PM Little Otik RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

9–29 NOVEMBER Peter Sís: The Wall; Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain RIVERSIDE STUDIOS EXHIBITION 24 NOVEMBER / 7.30 PM Heroes Like Us RIVERSIDE STUDIOS THEATRE

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CZECH CENTRE 13 Harley Street London W1G 9QG T: 020 7307 5180 F: 020 7323 3709 E: info@czechcentre.org.uk www.czechcentre.org.uk

Crisp Road Hammersmith London W6 9RL Box Office: 020 8237 1111 www.riversidestudios.co.uk

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Admission: £5 (£3.50 concs.)

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PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA

7 Leicester Place London WC2H 7BY www.princecharlescinema.com Box Office: 0870 811 2559

RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

Admission: One film £7.50 (£6.50 concs.)

Two films £10 (£8 concs.) exluding Sunday 2 pm screening £3.50 all.

The Czech Centre is kindly supported by Techo UK and Bernard – Premium Czech Lager

Czech Centre is a member of EUNIC London www.eunic-london.org