20 Years of Freedom 2009 / Manželské etudy a Manželské etudy po 20 letech (Zuzana a Stanislav) / Czech Republic 0
Zuzana and Stanislav said their "I dos” at the town hall at the beginning of the 1980s because they had a child on the way. Over the subsequent two decades they had to confront their dreams and ideals with reality. They managed to stay together for thirteen years even though their approach to life was very different. Will their children opt for a more cautious partnership strategy in life? Helena Třeštíková maps out an intriguing life story as part of her long-term cycle Marriage Stories 20 Years Later.
During the period 1981–2005, documentarist Helena Třeštíková followed the progress of couples who said their "I dos” at the beginning of the 1980s and, over the subsequent two decades, had to confront their dreams and ideals with a society in transformation. This is the case of Zuzana and Stanislav: they got married very young because they had a child on the way, however, it soon became apparent that not even the birth of little Honzík would help form a bond between these two very different people. The marriage managed to last thirteen years and produced another child, their daughter Zuzana. Today the children, now grown up, are determined not to make the same mistakes as their parents. For the film’s director, the story of Zuzana and Stanislav reflects two contrasting life concepts: go-ahead Stanislav is gradually becoming a contemplative middle-aged man who is continually trying to improve himself and now enjoys a closer relationship with his children. Zuzana, whom motherhood prevented from making her own way in life, remains passive and is having difficulties finding a new partner.
92 min / Color, DIGIBETA
Director Helena Třeštíková
/ Screenplay Helena Třeštíková
/ Dir. of Photography Vlastimil Hamerník, Miroslav Souček, Jan Malíř
/ Editor Zdenek Patočka, Alois Fišárek
/ Producer Anna Becková
/ Production Česká televize / Czech Television
/ Contact Czech Television, Festival Department, Czech Television - Telexport
Helena Třeštíková (b. 1949, Prague) is one of Europe’s most acclaimed documentary filmmakers. She studied direction at FAMU (1974) and, ever since her college film Viva Acqua (1972), has been developing her real-time documentaries, shot over several years. Her films examine interpersonal relationships within a broader social context. In 1990 she co-founded the Film & Sociology Foundation and, in 1994, the Man and Time Foundation. Select filmography: A Touch of Light (1979), If Something Needs Our Help – It’s Freedom (1990), Sweet Century (1998 – Best Documentary at the Karlovy Vary IFF), Women at the Turn of the Millennium (Trapped) (2001 – Special Mention at the KVIFF). Her film René (2008), part of the long-term cycle Tell Me Something about Yourself (begun in 1989), brought her international recognition (European Film Award 2008 for Best Documentary). Marriage Stories (1987–2006) is another of her projects which spans several years.
Czech Television, Festival Department
Kavčí Hory, 140 70, Praha 4
Czech Republic
Phone: +420 261 137 438; +420 261 137 106
Fax: +420 261 211 354
E-mail: jitka.prochazkova@ceskatelevize.cz; petra.stovikova@ceskatelevize.cz
Czech Television - Telexport
Kavčí hory, 140 70, Praha 4
Czech Republic
Phone: +420 261 137 047
E-mail: telexport@ceskatelevize.cz
Helena Třeštíková
Film Director, Producer
Petra Štovíková
Festival Organizer, Producer, TV Representative
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