Synopsis
Obstacles are only there to be overcome.
The feature film Citizen Havel directed by Pavel Koutecký and Miroslav Janek looks behind the scenes of the political and private dramas of the presidential period of Václav Havel. The viewers will see his nervousness during the first election of the Czech president or his anguish during the rehearsal of the presidential acceptance speech, they will learn that he can recite Šrámek’s Silver Wind or pour Miloš Zeman a shot of becherovka. But the camera follows him also in situations where he gets really angry and complains about poorly made shirts. The film will also finally unravel several long-standing mysteries of Czech politics – how Václav Klaus managed to break into a jazz club and who put Jacques Chirac in a seat next to the first lady.
Director Pavel Koutecký started shooting the film in 1992 and followed the first Czech president for more than thirteen years. Unfortunately, Koutecký did not see the premiere of his most interesting and biggest film. After his tragic death in the spring of 2006, director Miroslav Janek took over and finished the film.
Country
Czech Republic
Producers
JARMILA POLÁKOVÁ
Genre
Documentary
Co-producers
PAVEL STRNAD, MICHAEL WOLKOWITZ, JAN KRÁSA, DAVID DUŠEK, WITH THE SUPPORT OF CZECH FILM FUND
Release Date
31. 1. 2008
Screening Formats
HD FILES
Runtime
82 MIN
Trailer & Photogallery
Cast & Crew
Director
PAVEL KOUTECKÝ, MIROSLAV JANEK
Cinematography
STANO SLUŠNÝ
Editor
TONIČKA JANKOVÁ
Dramaturgist
HANA JEMELÍKOVÁ
About the film
Pavel Koutecký followed Havel’s political and private life as head of state and captured over a hundred events of the thirteen-year period. In the documentary, a number of figures of world politics and culture will appear because Havel let Koutecký into places where the public and journalists were forbidden to enter. “Everyone agreed that this was an archive filming that would be used later. And so moviegoers will see unique behind-the-scenes footage of Havel’s foreign visits, numerous receptions at Prague Castle, and preparations for the visit of American President Bill Clinton, including his impromptu performance with a donated saxophone in the Prague Reduta,” said the film’s producer, Jarmila Poláková. The documentary Citizen Havel was completed by the director Miroslav Janek after the tragic death of Pavel Koutecký.