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Il Boemo

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Canadian Premiere

In the baroque courts of 18th century Venice, the fragile egos and appetites of patrons and artists clash in the rise and fall of one of history’s greatest unsung composers, Josef Mysliveček. Steeped in the rich, decadent costumes and music of the period, and combining the searing emotional power of Amadeus and the lavish aesthetics of Barry Lyndon, Il Boemo (The Bohemian) is the platonic ideal of a period drama.

Josef, an ambitious but struggling musician trying to climb his way into the extravagant heights of operatic stardom, becomes embroiled in social intrigue and aristocratic debauchery. Obsessed with the allure of his ambitions, Josef struggles to stay true to his vocation as he falls deeper into a libertine labyrinth of hedonistic pleasures that consume his body and mind. Winding between the baroque beauty of sumptuous aria performances to the vigorous, carnal sensuality of masquerades and orgies, and the tragic weight of glory upon Josef’s shoulders, director Petr Václav has carved a tale out of history worthy of an opera itself.

 

Best Film, Best Director, Czech Lions 2023

 

A visually and musically vivid film
Screen International

Director
Cast

Vojtěch Dyk, Barbara Ronchi, Elena Radonicich, Lana Vlady

Credits
Country of Origin

Czech Republic/Italy/Slovakia

Year

2022

Series

Showcase

Language

In Czech and Italian with English subtitles

Film Contact
Links
Content Warning

Sexual Violence

18+
137 min
Art, Music & Photography Drama

Book Tickets

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Credits

Executive Producer

Klára Botlíková, Vendy Fenclová

Producer

Jan Macola, Mimesis Film

Screenwriter

Petr Vaclav

Cinematography

Diego Romero Suarez Llanos

Editor

Paolo Cottignola, Florent Vassault, Florent Mangeot

Production Design

Irena Hradecká

Director

Petr Václav headshot

Petr Václav

Petr Vaclav is a graduate of the Film and TV School at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. His short Paní Le Murie (1993), received a nomination for a student Oscar. Vaclav’s film Cesta ven /The Way Out (2014) became the first Czech film to premiere at Cannes in 23 years. Vaclav’s most recent film, Il Boemo (2022) was the official submission of the Czech Republic for the Best International Film sector of the 2023 Academy Awards.

Filmography: Marian (1996); Paralelni svety (2001); The Way Out (2014); We Are Never Alone (2016); Skokan (2017)

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