Contrasting Havel’s moral stand as a human rights activist with his flawed private life, Horák builds up a captivating portrayal of a man who has become an icon.
The film will be available
to rent (UK only) for £6.99 from 10:00 on Sun 1 Nov GMT till 10:00 on Wed 4 Nov
2020 GMT on Czech Centre Vimeo on Demand.
BONUS: INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR SLÁVEK HORÁK
Havel, up close and personal: such is the new biopic by director
Slávek Horák of the critically esteemed Home Care. Focusing on the period 1968
- 1989 and Havel´s personal life, Horák explores Havel´s metamorphosis from
internationally celebrated but persecuted playwright to banned and jailed human
rights defender and finally to president of Czechoslovakia. But it is his
relationship with his first wife Olga, suffering from her husband’s
infidelities, that is at the centre of the story. Situations from his life such
as the secret police witnessing his failed attempt to resolve a love tringle in
a restaurant mirror his absurdist plays, provide humour and emotion while
Horák’s imaginative use of actual theatre settings to stage key moments from
Havel’s confrontations with communist power document his public persona. An
excellent cast including Viktor Dvořák capturing Havel’s moments of uncertainty
and weakness, and Anna Geislerová as direct and decisive Olga, complement a
portrayal depicting not an icon but a flawed man who steps out of his comfort
zone to become politically engaged. Watch out for news footage from Havel’s
life under the end credits including the Rolling Stones in Prague castle.
Dir. Slávek Horák, Czech Republic, 2020, English subtitles
Cast Viktor Dvořák, Anna Geislerová, Martin Hofmann, Barbora Seidlová
Nominated for The Czech Lions 2020 Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Screenplay and the Czech Film Critics Awards
“It is the personal life that helps the viewer to experience the story.
Because few people can identify with being jailed or fighting against the
Communists, as Havel did. But everybody can identify with a marital crisis or
relationship problems, which Havel – like all of us – had with Olga.” Slávek Horák
Interview with director Slávek Horák by film critic Peter Hames
Součástí festivalu Made in Prague 2020 ON/OFF