North American Premiere
Faced with the choice between staying true to his principles or risking his livelihood and freedom, the small-town notary at the centre of The Word is uncompromising in his beliefs and refuses to join the Communist Party. Set in politically turbulent Czechoslovakia during the summer of 1968, Beata Parkanová’s graceful film, inspired by her own grandparents, depicts the intimate lives of Václav and Věra, and their practical but enduring bond in the midst of political intimidation and harassment. The cinematography is stunning and precise in its close-ups and camera movement.
Long, extended takes and morally complex dialogue build tension in the scenes and underlie the main protagonist’s innate sense of justice. Martin Finger shines in a subtly powerful performance as a man who struggles with depression but remains true to his inner calling, and Gabriela Mikulková is forceful as a woman who is a tense and controlled pillar of strength.
Crystal Globe Competition Awards for Best Director and Best Actress, Karlovy Vary 2022
Martin Finger, Gabriela Mikulková, Jenovéfa Boková, Marek Geišberg, Tatjana Medvecká, Antonie Formanová
Czech Republic/Slovakia/Poland
2022
In Czech and Slovak with English subtitles
Book Tickets
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La venue de l'avenir
Four cousins are tapped to investigate an abandoned house that is their joint inheritance. As they explore, they learn their story of their ancestor Adele (Suzanne Lindon) and her foray into Paris in the age of Impressionism.
The Librarians
Dispatches from the front line of America's culture wars (and ours too): librarians speak out about the war against ideas, history, freedom of expression and sexual identity, a campaign in which an open mind is the ultimate enemy.
Nouvelle Vague
Linklater's love letter to Paris, 1959, and the difficult birth of Jean-Luc Godard's first feature, Breathless, channels the auteur's blithe self confidence and an era of all-encompassing cinephilia. It's the next best thing to being there.
Credits
Producer
Vojtěch Frič, Ondřej Kulhánek, Maroš Hečko, Peter Veverka, Ondřej Zach
Screenwriter
Beata Parkanová
Cinematography
Tomáš Juríček
Editor
Alois Fišárek
Production Design
Jan Vlček
Original Music
Jan. P. Muchov
Director
Beata Parkanová
Beata Parkanová is a screenwriter, director, and book author. She graduated from the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague in 2015. Before starting a film career, she wrote several books, including ones for children. Her first feature film was Chvilky (2018), which screened in the East of the West Competition at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Filmography: Chvilky (2018)