Jan Palach (film) - Misplaced Pages

2018 Czech film

Jan Palach

Directed by	Robert Sedláček
Written by	Eva Kantůrková
Produced by	Silvia Panáková, Erik Panák
Starring	Viktor Zavadil
Cinematography	Jan Šuster
Edited by	Josef Krajbich
Music by	Michal Rataj
Production company	Czech Television
Release dates	5 August 2018 (2018-08-05) (Uherské Hradiště Festival) 21 August 2018 (Czech republic)
Running time	124 minutes
Country	Czech Republic
Language	Czech
Budget	45,400,000 CZK
Box office	8,258,134 CZK

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

Plot

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

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.

Cast

Production

The film was shot in Prague, Milovice, or Pardubice Square which was used instead of Wenceslas Square. Filmmakers created a scale model of Statue of Saint Wenceslas. Self-immolation was shot with a stuntman at Střešovice. 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. 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.

Reception

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

Accolades

Date of ceremony	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
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
		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

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

External links

Jan Palach at IMDb

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