Ideally timed to draw domestic audiences back into Czech cinemas, loosely historical local-hero biopic “Havel” doesn’t let pesky facts get in the way of a good story. Multihyphenate Slávek Horák takes creative license with certain facts to stress the irony and absurdity of Václav Havel’s metamorphosis from celebrated playwright to banned and jailed human rights activist to eventual President of Czechoslovakia.
Concentrating more on Havel’s personal evolution (here prodded by the women in his life) and various emotional truths, who ultimately steps out of his comfort zone to become politically engaged. While some viewers may take issue with the simplifications, elisions and composites of Horák’s approach, others will be inspired once again by Havel’s courageous battle against oppression and the sacrifices he made.
A brief opening prologue set in the late 1980s lays out one of the central paradoxes of the protagonist’s life: that...
Concentrating more on Havel’s personal evolution (here prodded by the women in his life) and various emotional truths, who ultimately steps out of his comfort zone to become politically engaged. While some viewers may take issue with the simplifications, elisions and composites of Horák’s approach, others will be inspired once again by Havel’s courageous battle against oppression and the sacrifices he made.
A brief opening prologue set in the late 1980s lays out one of the central paradoxes of the protagonist’s life: that...
- 7/22/2020
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
In today's roundup of news and views: Reverse Shot's Martin Scorsese symposium rolls on. Twin Peaks will be a book before it returns. Jonathan Rosenbaum's posted excerpts from his conversations with Jean-Luc Godard. J. Hoberman reviews two films by Fritz Lang. The Nation reviews poetry by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Criterion's Peter Becker interviews Volker Schlöndorff. João Pedro Rodrigues and João Rui Guerra da Mata's A Última Vez Que Vi Macau sweeps awards in Portugal. A Marguerite Duras series opens in New York. Plus, remembering Pavel Landovsky, Marie Dubois and more. » - David Hudson...
- 10/17/2014
- Fandor: Keyframe
In today's roundup of news and views: Reverse Shot's Martin Scorsese symposium rolls on. Twin Peaks will be a book before it returns. Jonathan Rosenbaum's posted excerpts from his conversations with Jean-Luc Godard. J. Hoberman reviews two films by Fritz Lang. The Nation reviews poetry by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Criterion's Peter Becker interviews Volker Schlöndorff. João Pedro Rodrigues and João Rui Guerra da Mata's A Última Vez Que Vi Macau sweeps awards in Portugal. A Marguerite Duras series opens in New York. Plus, remembering Pavel Landovsky, Marie Dubois and more. » - David Hudson...
- 10/17/2014
- Keyframe
Czech ex-president, Vaclav Havel, directed his first feature film, Leaving, centered on his 2008 play of the same name.
Based on his celebrated 2008 play, Leaving, the movie is a seriocomically look at imagined Vilem Rieger, a foremost politician in exile, and stars a virtual elite of the Czech first credited actors including Josef Abrham, Jiri Machacek, Pavel Landovsky, Marian Labuda and Havel’s wife, actress Dagmar Havlova has a starring role in the film, playing the retiring chancellor’s companion.
The Bonton Films release opens this week in the Czech Republic and the film’s producer Jaroslav Boucek told journalists Havel hoped to attend the official premiere on March 22 before Leaving hits theaters across the Czech Republic two days later.
The synopsis is based on a play written by Havel after he ended his 14 years as president in 2003. It follows the story of Vilem Rieger, a chancellor who, as he prepares to leave power,...
Based on his celebrated 2008 play, Leaving, the movie is a seriocomically look at imagined Vilem Rieger, a foremost politician in exile, and stars a virtual elite of the Czech first credited actors including Josef Abrham, Jiri Machacek, Pavel Landovsky, Marian Labuda and Havel’s wife, actress Dagmar Havlova has a starring role in the film, playing the retiring chancellor’s companion.
The Bonton Films release opens this week in the Czech Republic and the film’s producer Jaroslav Boucek told journalists Havel hoped to attend the official premiere on March 22 before Leaving hits theaters across the Czech Republic two days later.
The synopsis is based on a play written by Havel after he ended his 14 years as president in 2003. It follows the story of Vilem Rieger, a chancellor who, as he prepares to leave power,...
- 3/20/2011
- by Nikola Mraovic
- Filmofilia
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