Jan Palach
Directed byRobert Sedláček
Written byEva Kantůrková
Produced bySilvia Panáková, Erik Panák
StarringViktor Zavadil
CinematographyJan Šuster
Edited byJosef Krajbich
Music byMichal Rataj
Production
company
Release dates
  • 5 August 2018 (2018-08-05)
(Uherské Hradiště Festival)
21 August 2018 (Czech republic)[2]
Running time
124 minutes
CountryCzech Republic
LanguageCzech
Budget45,400,000 CZK[3]
Box office8,258,134 CZK[4]

Jan Palach is a Czech biographical film directed by Robert Sedláček.[5] The film follows Jan Palach during 1968 and 1969 and shows the final 6 months of his life.[6] The film premiered at Uherské Hradiště Summer Film School.[7]

Plot

The film chronicles the life of Jan Palach from childhood until his death in 1969.[8]

The film starts during Palach's childhood. Palach gets lost in the woods and wanders in snow while his family tries to find him. The film then cuts to 1967 when Palach goes on a student work trip to Kazakhstan. He befriends a young Russian who gets in trouble, but Palach stands up for him against his superior. Palach then visits France along with his friends. He enjoys his time there until he finds out about the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia which shocks him. Palach decides to return to Czechoslovakia. He hears about the self-immolation of Ryszard Siwiec. Palach participates in a strike against the invasion and tries to be active. He is soon disappointed with the passiveness of society. He eventually decides to self-immolate himself against the invasion. The film ends with a shot of his burnt face. [9]

Cast

Director and actors
  • Viktor Zavadil as Jan Palach
  • Zuzana Bydžovská as Libuše Palachová
  • Denisa Barešová as Helenka
  • Kristína Kanátová as Eva
  • Michal Balcar as Jiří Palach
  • Karel Jirák as Ladislav Žižka
  • Jan Vondráček as Professor
  • Jiří Zapletal as Josef Smrkovský
  • Daniel Želatý as Jakub Schwarz Trojan
  • Gérard Robert Gratadour
  • Simone Hrášková
  • Patrik Paušo

Production

The film was shot at Prague, Milovice or Pardubice Square which was used instead of Wenceslas Square. Filmmakers created a scale model of Statue of Saint Wenceslas. [5][10] Self-immolation was shot with a stuntman at Střešovice. [2] Scenes from a church were shot at Evangelical Church at Libiš that was attended by Palach. Jakub Schwarz Trojan was played by his colleague Daniel Želatý.

Release

The film premiered at Uherské Hradiště Summer Film School on 5 August 2018. It was distributed for cinemas on 21 August 2018.[11][12] The film was projected in 95 Czech cinemas during the first week after its release. It was attended by 13,129 people and grossed 1,900,000 CZK.[13]

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from Czech critics. It holds 75% at Kinobox.cz.[14] The film was awarded for 6 Czech Film Critics' Awards.[15]

Accolades

Date of ceremony Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
2019 Czech Film Critics' Awards Best Film Won
Best Director Robert Sedláček Nominated
Best Screenplay Eva Kantůrková Nominated
Best Actor Viktor Zavadil Nominated
Best Actress Zuzana Bydžovská Nominated
Innogy Award Viktor Zavadil Nominated
Czech Lion Awards Best Film Nominated [14]
Best Director Robert Sedláček Nominated
Best Screenplay Eva Kantůrková Nominated
Best Actor in a Leading Role Viktor Zavadil Nominated
Best Actress in a Leading Role Zuzana Bydžovská Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Jan Vondráček Nominated
Best Costume Design Tomáš Chlud Nominated
Best Make up and Hairstyling Jana Bílková Nominated

References

  1. "Robert Sedláček točí film o Palachovi". ČT24 (in Czech). Česká televize. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 "VIDEO: Jan Palach znovu v plamenech. Jak se točila klíčová scéna". iDNES.cz. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  3. "Fond kinematografie rozdělil 66 milionů korun, podpoří Sedláčkův film o Palachovi či satiru Prezident Blaník". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). 27 November 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  4. "Jan Palach - Tržby a návštěvnost". KINOMANIAK (in Czech). Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Robert Sedláček točí film Jan Palach, studenta hraje Viktor Zavadil". iDNES.cz. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  6. "Filmový Jan Palach ukáže na plátně svůj poslední půlrok života". Seznam Zprávy. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  7. "Světová premiéra filmu Jan Palach na Letní filmové škole v Uherském Hradišti". Kudy z nudy. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  8. "RECENZE: I na plátně zůstal neuchopitelný Jan Palach záhadou". iDNES.cz. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  9. "Film Jan Palach ukazuje jeho cestu k sebeupálení". České noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  10. "Filmová kolize: komparzistu shodila hlaveň obrněnce". iDNES.cz. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  11. "VIDEO: Jan Palach veze světovou premiéru na Letní filmovou školu". iDNES.cz. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  12. "Když v českých kinech narazí plyšový Medvídek Pú na Jana Palacha..." Kinobox.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  13. "Když se Jan Palach a Kryštůfek Robin krčí v koutě aneb Tohle léto patří animovaným filmům". Kinobox.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Jan Palach". Kinobox.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  15. "Film Jan Palach má šest nominací na Ceny české filmové kritiky". České noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 3 January 2019.
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