Václav

Mentally disabled villager Václav lives in his own playful, poetic world but comes into increasing conflict with his neighbours, colleagues and members of his family.

Václav
Czechia 2007
97 min.
Přístupný
  • This film is available until 31. 7. 2025 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.
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About

The autistic Václav is regarded as a harmless enough soul but, as the years pass, he causes increasing problems, and his neighbours in the village and his colleagues in the agricultural cooperative are running out of patience. Locked in his own playful, poetic world, he lives with his aging mum who fondly accepts her son’s madcap ideas and excesses. But the majority think that someone who shoots at passers-by with an air rifle and tries to drive a tractor for fun belongs in an institution. Even the man’s respectable younger brother František refuses to take him under his wing anymore. Then one of Václav’s reckless exploits lands him in prison. Who will find the courage to sign the petition for his release? This tragicomedy is inspired by a real story from the 1990s which received considerable exposure when the protagonist was granted clemency by former President Václav Havel. Ivan Trojan and Jan Budař won Czech Lions for their performances.

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Credits
Director: Jiří Vejdělek
Screenplay: Marek Epstein, Jiří Vejdělek
Cinematography: Jakub Šimůnek
Music: Jan P. Muchow
Sound: Peter Mazáček
Editing: Jan Daňhel
Production Design: Henrich Boráros
Producer: Jaroslav Bouček, Jaroslav Kučera
Costumes: Andrea Králová, Zuzana Krejzková
Cast: Ivan Trojan, Gregor Bauer, Jiří Lábus, Emília Vášáryová, Jan Budař, Zuzana Kronerová, Petra Špalková, Martin Pechlát, Soňa Norisová, Vladimír Javorský
Awards

Czech Lions

2007 – Ivan Trojan (Best Actor)

Czech Lions

2007 – Jan Budař (Best Supporting Actor)

Shanghai International Film Festival

2008 – Emília Vášáryová (Best Actress)

Shanghai International Film Festival

2008 – Marek Epstein (Best Screenplay)

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