The Karamazovs

Director Petr Zelenka, in both his chosen theme and form, has come up with an exceptional piece, oscillating between fiction and documentary and centred on the successful production presented by Prague’s Dejvice Theatre.

Karamazovi
Czechia, Poland 2008
  • Czech
110 min.
Přístupný
  • This film is available until 31. 7. 2025 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.
About

A theatre company from Prague arrives in Cracow to present a stage adaptation of Dostoevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov at the city’s alternative drama festival; the production is to be staged in an unusual venue – the local steelworks. As rehearsals get under way, we follow not only the emotional story examining issues of faith, immortality and the salvation of the human soul, but also the relationships within the acting troupe itself, which strangely reflect Dostoevsky’s “great” themes. The stage drama is transferred to the real world when a tragedy occurs during rehearsal involving one of the spectators.

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Credits
Director: Petr Zelenka
Based on: Fjodor Michajlovič Dostojevskij, Evald Schorm
Screenplay: Petr Zelenka
Cinematography: Alexander Šurkala
Music: Jan A. P. Kaczmarek
Sound: Michal Holubec
Editing: Vladimír Barák
Production Design: Barbara Ostapowitz
Producer: Čestmír Kopecký
Co-production: Karolina Ochab, Roman Wikeł, Katarzina Adamik, Jaroslav Kučera
Costumes: Martin Chocholoušek
Cast: Ivan Trojan, Radek Holub, Igor Chmela, Roman Luknár, David Novotný, Martin Myšička, Andrzej Mastalerz, Lenka Krobotová, Pavel Šimčík, Michaela Badinková
Awards

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

2008 – Petr Zelenka (FIPRESCI Prize)

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

2008 – Petr Zelenka (Special Mention)

Czech Lions

2008 – Best Film

Czech Lions

2008 – Petr Zelenka (Best Director)

Links
  • This film is available until 31. 7. 2025 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.