Czech Films 2011–2012 2012 / Lidice / Czech Republic 2011
Behind every historical tragedy lie human destinies whose stories serve to heighten the anguish. This film about the Lidice massacre lays open the turbulent lives of people living in the shadow of prototypical Nazi brutality which served as a reminder for the whole world. The film was based on the acclaimed screenplay by Zdeněk Mahler.
"Do you really think you know what happened in Lidice?” is the question posed by Lidice, a drama about one of the many great tragedies of the Second World War. The story of the village of Lidice, which was razed in reprisal for the assassination in Prague of Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich, is familiar the world over. The film of the same name takes a look beyond the story, however, and allows the viewer to follow the lives of specific individuals associated with the village. It also demonstrates the timelessness of human qualities and failings – even behind unimaginable tragedy there is always a concrete decision which has its precise causes. Mindful of the importance of its theme, the film gradually discloses the petty impulses which led to the total destruction of the village, and what influenced the destiny of the only man from Lidice to survive, his survival nevertheless due to a different misfortune. In merging these stories, the movie brings out the different shades of human nature, people’s motivation and the unforeseeable repercussions of seemingly banal decisions.
123 min / Color, 35 mm
Director Petr Nikolaev
/ Screenplay Zdeněk Mahler
/ Dir. of Photography Antonio Riestra
/ Music James Harries, Michal Hrůza, Karel Heřman
/ Editor Adam Dvořák
/ Producer Adam Dvořák, Robert Schaffer
/ Production Movie, s.r.o.
/ Cast Karel Roden, Zuzana Fialová, Zuzana Bydžovská, Roman Luknár, Jan Budař, Marek Adamczyk, Ondřej Novák, Veronika Kubařová
/ Contact Magic Box - division Bioscop, Fabrication Films
/ Distributor Magic Box - division Bioscop
www: www.filmlidice.cz
Petr Nikolaev (b. 1957, Prague) took a documentary film course at Prague’s FAMU (1978–1984), and left for France after graduating. While he was still studying he gained kudos with the films Fit for Service (1979) and Praga caput regni (1980). Five years after returning to his native country he debuted with the literary adaptation The Wonderful Years That Sucked (1997), which was screened at Karlovy Vary. He chose the restrictive Communist years as the setting for his acclaimed film It’s Gonna Get Worse (2007), shown at KVIFF after its premiere at the Berlinale. His drama A Little Piece of Heaven (2005) was chosen by Variety critics for the magazine’s selection at the Karlovy Vary festival. He again demonstrated his stylistic versatility in 2009 with the fairy tale In the Name of the King. He has directed numerous TV documentaries, films and series and is currently working on the crime drama The Story of the Godfather.
Magic Box - division Bioscop
Na Klikovce 7, 140 00, Praha 4
Czech Republic
Phone: +420 221 436 255
Fax: +420 221 436 305
E-mail: [email protected]
Fabrication Films
6711 Forest Lawn Dr. #106, CA 90068, Los Angeles
United States of America
Phone: +1 323 874 265 5
Fax: +1 322 874 265 4
E-mail: [email protected]
Adam Dvořák
Producer
Jan Budař
Actor, Actor
Zuzana Bydžovská
Actress
Veronika Khek Kubařová
Actress, Actress
Ondřej Novák
Actor
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