HELENA TŘEŠTÍKOVÁ'S NEW DOCUMENTARY TO COMPETE AT KARLOVY VARY

The press screening of Helena Třeštíková latest documentary film René takes place Thu, June 12, at 10:30am at Světozor. Named after the protagonist, this longitudinal project for nearly 20 years followed a man whose life has been split between prison time and brief periods of freedom. Included in the documentary competition at this year's Karlovy Vary IFF (July 4-12), the film will be released in Czech theatres July 24, 2008.

 

 

Press Screening
Thursday, June 12, 2008, 10:30am
Světozor, Vodičkova 41, Praha 1

Following the screening, there will be a press conference attended by the director.

 

RENÉ
Czech Republic 2008, 90 minutes, 35mm

Director: Helena Třeštíková
Cinematography: Martin Kubala, Petr Pešek, Stano Slušný, Marek Dvořák, Ondřej Belica, Václav Smolík, Miroslav Souček, Vlastimil Hamerník   
Sound: Vladimír Nahodil, Pavel Sádek, Jan Valouch, Václav Hejduk, Miroslav Šimčík    
Editor: Jakub Hejna    
Script Editor: Michael Třeštík, Jan Gogola ml., Martin Štoll     
Music: Tadeáš Věrčák   
Producer: Pavel Strnad, Negativ s.r.o.

This raw authentic documentary film tells the story of René whose life was being captured on camera since he was seventeen. The camera followed his hopeless journey between prison and brief periods outside the prison walls. In 2008 the film comes to an end, leaving the now 37-year-old René as a sick man who still gets in trouble with the law and who is also the author of two published books. Director Helena Třeštíková records René's personal developments against the backdrop of significant political transformations taking place in Central Europe.

René's story begins in prison under socialist posters, continues through the so-called Velvet Revolution of 1989 and gets a seemingly happy conclusion with the amnesty decree issued by President Václav Havel. Yet René soon heads back to prison and also celebrated our EU accession from behind the bars. During the years spent in prison - sentenced mainly for theft - René had his whole body covered in tattoos, escaped from prison only to be soon recaptured, burgled the director's home, was involved in a couple of romantic relationships, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as well as a high IQ. René displays his outlook on life by flashing his "Fuck of People" tattoo on his neck.    

 

 

Helena Třeštíková's René will be screened in the documentary competition at the 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

Theatrical Release: July 24, 2008