VELVET®EVOLUTIONTHE BEST OF CZECH CINEMA1989–2009

CZECH CENTRE PRESENTS

7–15 NOVEMBER 2009PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA /RIVERSIDE STUDIOSLONDON

WWW.CZECHCENTRE.ORG.UK

VELVET®EVOLUTIONTHE BEST OF CZECH CINEMA1989–2009

After the fall of Communism in 1989, it took a few years for Czech cinema to adjust to

a denationalised fi lm industry and the new demands of the market. But by 2008, Czech fi lms 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 fi lms 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.

This retrospective of Czech cinema cherry picking the best of Czech fi lms 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.

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Peter Hames

Film Critic

Author of The Czechoslovak New Wave

The KaramazovsSATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PMPRINCE CHARLES CINEMA7 LEICESTER PLACELONDON WC2BOX OFFICE: 0870 811 2559

PETR ZELENKA, CZECH REPUBLIC / POLAND 2008, 100’

(IVAN TROJAN, IGOR CHMELA, DAVID NOVOTNÝ)

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 fi lm moves between its alternating perspectives. Focussing on the trial scenes, the fi lm examines the subject of patricide, the complicity of the three younger Karamazovs and the supposedly illegitimate Smerdyakov.

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

Introduction and Q&A with director Petr Zelenka

In collaboration with the Polish Cultural Institute

Gala

Screening

LonersTHURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER / 6.25 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

DAVID ONDŘÍČEK, CZECH REPUBLIC / SLOVENIA 2000, 104’

(MIKULÁŠ KŘEN, JIŘÍ MACHÁČEK, LABINA MITEVSKA)

Seven Prague-based characters looking for love fi nd themselves alone in this off beat, engaging generation comedy. A very fresh and spontaneous fi lm 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.

CZECH LION 2000 – BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Country TeacherTHURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

BOHDAN SLÁMA, CZECH REPUBLIC / FRANCE / GERMANY 2008, 120’

(PAVEL LIŠKA, ZUZANA BYDŽOVSKÁ, LADISLAV ŠEDIVÝ)

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 2008 – BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST ACTRESS

Introduction and Q&A with director Bohdan Sláma

*Offer applies to 18+ only.

If you buy

a ticket to this

screening you will

receive* a compli-

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of Bernard,

Premium

Czech Lager.

Buttoners FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER / 6.25 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

PETR ZELENKA, CZECH REPUBLIC 1998, 104’

(JIŘÍ KODET, RUDOLF HRUŠÍNSKÝ, EVA HOLUBOVÁ)

A black comedy about ordinary people who bargain with fate at the end of the 20th century. It’s a funny fi lm about spitting on trains, bad weather, the atom bomb, shooting human sperm into space, infi delity 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.

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

Something Like Happiness FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

BOHDAN SLÁMA , CZECH REPUBLIC 2005, 102’

(ANNA GEISLEROVÁ, PAVEL LIŠKA, TATIANA VILHELMOVÁ)

A poignant drama examining the intertwining stories of three childhood friends trying to fi nd 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 suff ers a breakdown and is confi ned to a psychiatric ward, they take charge of her children and new opportunities open up…

CZECH LION 2005 – BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST ACTRESS, BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, BEST ACTORWINNER 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 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

KAREL VACHEK, CZECH REPUBLIC 2000, 254’

(EGON BONDY, VRATISLAV BRABENEC, IVAN MARTIN JIROUS)

The fringes of politics and mushrooms feature in this portrait of ’national character and soul’ refl ecting 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 fi lm 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 fi rst UK presentation of work by a doyen of Czech documentary fi lmmaking, Karel Vachek.

MFDF JIHLAVA 2000 – BEST CZECH DOCUMENTARY FILM

Documentary

Bored in BrnoSATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER / 6.30 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

VLADIMÍR MORÁVEK, CZECH REPUBLIC 2003, 104’

(JAN BUDAŘ, MIROSLAV DONUTIL, KATEŘINA HOLANOVÁ).

Standa doesn’t want to be a virgin any more and is preparing for his fi rst 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.

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

Return of the IdiotSATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER / 8.35 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SAŠA GEDEON, CZECH REPUBLIC 1999, 99’

(PAVEL LIŠKA, ANNA GEISLEROVÁ, TATIANA VILHELMOVÁ)

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 fi rst time while living with distant relatives. Entangled in confl icts 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 1999 – BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST SOUNDTRACK,BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Autumn Spring SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER/ 3.55 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

VLADIMÍR MICHÁLEK, CZECH REPUBLIC 2001, 95´

(VLASTIMIL BRODSKÝ, STELLA ZÁZVORKOVÁ, STANISLAV 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)

Hell with the PrincessSUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 2 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOSADMISSION: £3.50 ALL

MILOSLAV 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 fi ancée 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

Family fi lm

in Czech

Divided We FallSUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 6 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

JAN HŘEBEJK, CZECH REPUBLIC 2000, 117’

(BOLEK POLÍVKA, ANNA ŠIŠKOVÁ, JAROSLAV DUŠEK)

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 fi t 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.

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

Little OtikSUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 8.20 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

JAN ŠVANKMAJER, CZECH REPUBLIC / UNITED KINGDOM / JAPAN 2001, 127’

(KRISTINA ADAMCOVÁ, JAN HARTL, VERONIKA ŽILKOVÁ)

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 2001 – BEST FILM

Heroes Like Us 24 NOVEMBER / 7.30 PMRIVERSIDE STUDIOSBOX OFFICE: 020 8237 1111ADMISSION: £12 (£9 CONCS)

Klaus Uhltzscht, the son of a secret police offi cer was never expected to make a signifi cant 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.

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 LONDONPART OF THE FEEAST 09’ & VELVET ®EVOLUTION 1989–2009 SEASON

Peter Sís: The Wall; Growing Up Behind the Iron CurtainSUNDAY 9–29 NOVEMBERRIVERSIDE STUDIOSADMISSION FREE

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 SEASONSEE WWW.CZECHCENTRE.ORG.UK FOR DETAILS

ExhibitionTheatre

-World

Premiere

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PMThe Karamazovs PRINCE CHARLES CINEMAQ&A with Petr Zelenka

THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER / 6.25 PM

LonersRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PM Country TeacherRIVERSIDE STUDIOSQ&A with Bohdan Sláma

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER / 6.25 PM ButtonersRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER / 8.30 PM Something Like HappinessRIVERSIDE STUDIOSQ&A with Bohdan Sláma

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER / 1.30 PM Bohemia Docta …RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER / 6.30 PM Bored in BrnoRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER / 8.35 PM Return of the IdiotRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 2 PM Hell with the PrincessRIVERSIDE STUDIOSFancy Dress event followed by a workshop.

Admission: £3.50

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 3.55 PM Autumn SpringRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 6 PM

Divided We FallRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER / 8.20 PM

Little OtikRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

9–29 NOVEMBERPeter Sís: The Wall; Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

EXHIBITION

24 NOVEMBER / 7.30 PM Heroes Like UsRIVERSIDE STUDIOS

THEATRE

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

PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA

7 Leicester Place

London WC2H 7BY

www.princecharlescinema.com

Box Office: 0870 811 2559

Admission: £5 (£3.50 concs.)

RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

Crisp Road

Hammersmith

London W6 9RL

Box Office: 020 8237 1111

www.riversidestudios.co.uk

Admission:

One film £7.50 (£6.50 concs.)

Two films £10 (£8 concs.)

exluding

Sunday 2 pm screening £3.50 all.

HAMMERSMITH

APOLLO

HAMMERSMITH

BROADWAY

RIVERSIDE

STUDIOS

GREAT WEST ROAD A4

HAMM

ERSMIT

H BRID

GE ROAD

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

LEICESTER

SQUARE

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AR

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CR

OS

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LISLE STREET

PRINCE

CHARLES

CINEMA