The Chairman Must Win

synopsis

Spanning more than a decade, this chronicle of rural life focuses on the village of Staňkovice, where a small animal breeders’ association was established to organise regular exhibitions, sales and competitions. Framed by a retrospective interview with the association’s founder and long-serving chairman, Ladislav Plavajka, the film captures the gradual breakdown of the breeders’ original sense of solidarity. Over the years, the organisation is threatened by personal ambitions, envy and disputes over rabbit judging and the management of public funds. This bittersweet exploration of local politics and community life reveals universal patterns of Czech mentality and the dynamics of small communities.

“For people from Prague, the price is 140 because they earn more, do nothing, and just go to theatres and concerts.”

biography

Jan Novák (1953) is a Czech-American writer, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. He emigrated to the United States in 1969. He is the author of acclaimed books (So Far So Good, Kundera) and co-creator of documentaries exploring Czech history and national identity (Citizen Havel Goes on Vacation, Escape to Berlin).

film details

director:	Jan Novák
producer:	Jan Novak, Martin Kaše, Michal Křeček
script:	Jan Novák
photography:	Bohdan Zajčenko, Františka Chlumská
editing:	Jiří Mikula
sound:	Vít Jíra, Bohdan Zajčenko, Pavel Bělohlávek

contact

Jan Novák / Chicago Motion Pictures
janknovak@gmail.com