Havel 90: The Power of the Powerless

synopsis

Marking the 90th anniversary of Václav Havel’s birth, this documentary departs from conventional biography, moving beyond the accounts of his political and private life explored in previous films. It examines how relevant his ideas and concepts remain in today’s world, and how his emphasis on living in truth and human rights resonates with younger and middle generations. At its heart is his essay The Power of the Powerless, which takes on a chilling relevance amid the current geopolitical crisis. The film also juxtaposes previously unpublished interviews recorded twenty years ago with the present, offering a critical perspective on the clash between moral visions and the populism and extremism increasingly shaping our world.

biography

Václav Křístek is a director and writer from Olomouc. He studied film directing at FAMU in Prague and began his career at Barrandov Studios as an assistant director. He made his feature debut with Přátelé bermudského trojúhelníku (1987), followed by Zvířata ve městě (1989) and Vyžilý Boudník (1990). Since the 1990s, he has worked primarily in television. He contributed to the satirical series Česká soda and directed the historical fairy tale Císař a tambor (1998) and the family drama Hodný chlapec (2004). His interest in rock music informed numerous musician portraits and the extensive documentary series Bigbít (1998), charting the history of Czech rock. He also worked on the series Neznámí hrdinové, Historie.cs and Historie.eu. Alongside directing, he writes fiction. His historical novel Cesta na poledne (2004), about Jakub Krčín of Jelčany, the builder of South Bohemia’s fishponds, won the Book Club Award. He followed it with a loosely connected sequel, Prohrát slunce před svítáním (2011).

film details

director:	Mgr. Václav Křístek
producer:	Robert Riedl, Rebeka Bartůňková
script:	Čestmír Franěk
photography:	Mgr. Petr Hykš
editing:	Šárka Němcová
sound:	Jiří Melchar