Zátopek (film) - Misplaced Pages

2021 Czech film

Zátopek
Film poster
Directed by	David Ondříček
Written by	David Ondříček Alice Nellis Jan P. Muchow [cs]
Produced by	David Ondříček Kryštof Mucha
Starring	Václav Neužil Martha Issová
Cinematography	Štěpán Kučera [cs]
Music by	Beata Hlavenková
Production companies	Lucky Man Films Česká televize Z Films Barrandov Studios
Distributed by	Falcon
Release date	20 August 2021 (2021-08-20)
Running time	130 minutes
Country	Czech Republic
Language	Czech
Budget	92 million CZK
Box office	64 Million CZK

Zátopek is a 2021 Czech biographical film about Emil Zátopek. It is directed by David Ondříček and stars Václav Neužil. It was selected as the Czech entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.

Plot

Ron Clarke competes at 1968 Summer Olympics but fails to win any medal. Feeling disappointed that he might have lost his last chance to win an Olympics medal he starts to doubt his career and decides to meet Emil Zátopek whom he adores. The film is about their dialogue during which audience can learn retrospectively about Zátopek's sport career and his life.

Cast

Václav Neužil as Emil Zátopek
Martha Issová as Dana Zátopková
Robert Mikluš [cs] as Josef Dostál
James Frecheville as Ron Clarke
Gabriel Andrews as Ron's Trainer
Sinead Phelps as Helen
Sean Brodeur as English Soldier
Anna Schmidtmajerová as Dana's friend
Filipp Mogilnitskiy as Soviet journalist
Roy McCrerey as English Commentator
Daniela Hirsh as Translator
Kevin Clarke as Disgruntled Spectator

Production

David Ondříček came up with an idea for the film in 2007 and started to work on the screenplay and started to prepare the film after he finished Dukla 61. In 2015, Ondříček started to gather finances for the film and submitted application for a grant from Czech State Fund for Cinematography but was twice rejected. After the release of Ondříček's film Dukla 61, Ondříček's third request was accepted and Zátopek received subsidy of 15 million CZK allowing Ondříček to renew preparations.

Shooting started on 29 April 2019 at Březnice stadium near Příbram. Scenes shot there with the main actors also included around 150 extras and were considered one of the most cost complicated in the film due to number of people.

Main parts of the film were shot from August 2019. Crew were shooting on various athletic areas such as Riegrovy sady or Za Lužánkami Stadium which served as replacement for London Olympic Stadium and the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The stadium had to be adjusted for the shooting. Shooting concluded in November 2019.

First trailer for the film was released on 30 December 2019.

Release

The film was originally set to premiere on 13 August 2020, but was delayed for 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic. A new date was set for 12 August 2021. It was eventually moved to 20 August 2021 during the 55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Distribution for cinemas was set for 26 August 2021. On 19 September 2022 the film was released on Voyo streaming service.

Reception

Critical reception

Zátopek has received generally positive reviews from critic holding 82% on Kinobox.

Accolades

The film won the audience award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival garnering a 1.13 rating from the audience narrowly beating Quo Vadis, Aida?.

Awards and nominations received by *Zátopek*
Year	Event	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref(s)
2021	55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival	Crystal Globe	Best film		Nominated
2021	55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival	Deník právo Award	Audience award	David Ondříček	Won

References

"Film Zátopek natočí i v Helsinkách, kde běžec získal zlato. Rozpočet je 92 milionů". Lidovky.cz (in Czech). 29 July 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
"Zátopek - Tržby a návštěvnost". kinomaniak.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 15 August 2022.
"Lidská lokomotiva Zátopek. Film o běžci natočili Ondříček, Neužil a Issová". novinky.cz. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
"Inspirational Czech biopic 'Zátopek' is in the running for an Oscar nomination". expats.cz. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
"Prořídlý Neužil a Issová s oštěpem. Film Zátopek je hotov. Podívejte se, jak se povedly první záběry". Reflex.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 18 January 2020.
"Po Dukle 61 plánuje Ondříček vysněného Zátopka. Závodil i se psem, líčí". idnes.cz. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
"Režisér Ondříček připravuje film o Zátopkovi. Martha Issová se kvůli němu učí házet oštěpem". irozhlas.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 18 January 2020.
"Dukla 61: Režisér David Ondříček po úspěchu filmu dostal patnáct milionů!". blesk.cz. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
"David Ondříček začal s Václavem Neužilem natáčet Zátopka". Totalfilm.cz (in Czech). 29 April 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
Marvanová, Jana (2 May 2019). "Václav Neužil se zapotil: Začalo natáčení filmu o Zátopkovi". blesk.cz. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
"Připravit ke startu, pozor, teď. Filmový Zátopek vyráží na hlavní trať, závodit bude i Za Lužánkami". ct24.ceskatelevize.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 18 January 2020.
"Na začátku listopadu skončilo natáčení filmu Zátopek v hlavní roli s Václavem Neužilem". Deník N (in Czech). 19 November 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
"Trailer: Představuje se film o jednom z největších atletů všech dob". kinobox.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 18 January 2020.
"Dvacet tipů na kulturní lahůdky. Ultimátní průvodce Forbesu uměním v roce 2020". forbes.cz (in Czech). 4 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
"Film o slavném atletovi Zátopkovi se odkládá na rok 2021". novinky.cz. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
"Helsinský závod století z roku 1952 ožije ve filmu. Víme, kdy vstoupí snímek o jednom z nejlepších atletů historie do kin". kinobox.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 27 December 2020.
Chalupa, Zdeněk. "Zátopek v kinech od 26. srpna 2021". celebritytime.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 9 August 2021.
"Zátopek vybíhá na Voyo Další zářez VOD služby TV Nova". Televizniweb.cz (in Czech). 18 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
"Zátopek". kinobox.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 30 August 2021.
"Diváckou cenu Práva na MFF KV vyhrál Zátopek". novinky.cz. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
"Vyhrát může jen jeden. O hlavní cenu karlovarského filmového festivalu usilují hned čtyři česko-slovenské počiny". kinobox.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 30 August 2021.
"Depp ozdobil i závěr Varů. Cenu diváků má Zátopek, vyhrálo srbské drama". idnes.cz (in Czech). 28 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.

External links

Zátopek at IMDb
Zátopek at CSFD.cz (in Czech)

v t e Czech submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Faust (1994) Thanks for Every New Morning (1995) Kolya (1996) Forgotten Light (1997) Sekal Has to Die (1998) The Idiot Returns (1999) Divided We Fall (2000) Dark Blue World (2001) The Wild Bees (2002) Želary (2003) Up and Down (2004) Something Like Happiness (2005) Lunacy (2006) I Served the King of England (2007) The Karamazov Brothers (2008) Protector (2009) Kawasaki's Rose (2010) Alois Nebel (2011) In the Shadow (2012) The Don Juans (2013) Fair Play (2014) Home Care (2015) Lost in Munich (2016) Ice Mother (2017) Winter Flies (2018) The Painted Bird (2019) Charlatan (2020) Zátopek (2021) Il Boemo (2022) Brothers (2023) Waves (2024)

Czech submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

Faust (1994)
Thanks for Every New Morning (1995)
Kolya (1996)
Forgotten Light (1997)
Sekal Has to Die (1998)
The Idiot Returns (1999)
Divided We Fall (2000)
Dark Blue World (2001)
The Wild Bees (2002)
Želary (2003)
Up and Down (2004)
Something Like Happiness (2005)
Lunacy (2006)
I Served the King of England (2007)
The Karamazov Brothers (2008)
Protector (2009)
Kawasaki's Rose (2010)
Alois Nebel (2011)
In the Shadow (2012)
The Don Juans (2013)
Fair Play (2014)
Home Care (2015)
Lost in Munich (2016)
Ice Mother (2017)
Winter Flies (2018)
The Painted Bird (2019)
Charlatan (2020)
Zátopek (2021)
Il Boemo (2022)
Brothers (2023)
Waves (2024)

v t e Czech Lion for Best Film
Big Beat (1993) Thanks for Every New Morning (1994) The Garden (1995) Kolya (1996) Buttoners (1997) Sekal Has to Die (1998) The Idiot Returns (1999) Divided We Fall (2000) Little Otik (2001) Year of the Devil (2002) Boredom in Brno (2003) Up and Down (2004) Something Like Happiness (2005) I Served the King of England (2006) Little Girl Blue (2007) The Karamazov Brothers (2008) Protector (2009) Walking Too Fast (2010) Poupata (2011) In the Shadow (2012) Burning Bush (2013) The Way Out (2014) The Snake Brothers (2015) A Prominent Patient (2016) Ice Mother (2017) Winter Flies (2018) The Painted Bird (2019) Charlatan (2020) Zátopek (2021) Il Boemo (2022) Brothers (2023)

Czech Lion for Best Film

Big Beat (1993)
Thanks for Every New Morning (1994)
The Garden (1995)
Kolya (1996)
Buttoners (1997)
Sekal Has to Die (1998)
The Idiot Returns (1999)
Divided We Fall (2000)
Little Otik (2001)
Year of the Devil (2002)
Boredom in Brno (2003)
Up and Down (2004)
Something Like Happiness (2005)
I Served the King of England (2006)
Little Girl Blue (2007)
The Karamazov Brothers (2008)
Protector (2009)
Walking Too Fast (2010)
Poupata (2011)
In the Shadow (2012)
Burning Bush (2013)
The Way Out (2014)
The Snake Brothers (2015)
A Prominent Patient (2016)
Ice Mother (2017)
Winter Flies (2018)
The Painted Bird (2019)
Charlatan (2020)
Zátopek (2021)
Il Boemo (2022)
Brothers (2023)

v t e Czech Lion - Film Fans Award
Burning Bush (2013) Fair Play (2014) The Snake Brothers (2015) Anthropoid (2016) Barefoot (2017) Smiles of Sad Men (2018) Women on the Run (2019) Caught in the Net (2020) Zátopek (2021) Nineties (2022) Restore Point (2023)

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