20/04/2007

In just seven years, from 1994 to 2001, Vladimír Michálek produced five highly acclaimed feature films. His latest, Autumn Spring [+see also:
trailer
film profile], won a series of prizes at home and abroad. Surprisingly, instead of basking in his success to focus on creating more cinematic works, Michálek disappeared from the film stage and devoted himself to TV projects.

However, the man who admits that he "doesn’t like festivals" looks to be back again with O rodicích a detech (lit. "About Parents and Children"), which starts filming today in Prague.

The film is based on writings by Czech author Emil Hakl about a father-son relationship over 40 years of modern history, which unveils during their long walks together.

Hakl and Michálek co-wrote the screenplay with author Jiri Krizan. The father and son are played by Josef Somr and David Novotný respectively.

Michálek is considered to be one of the Czech Republic’s most talented filmmakers. He has been nominated four times for Best Director at the Czech Lions, the country’s most prestigious film industry distinctions, but won the top accolade only once, with Sekal Has to Die (Je treba zabit Sekala) in 1999. His last feature, Autumn Spring, won four other Czech Lions in 2001.

Michálek was also nominated four times for the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival but again won none.

The €1m About Parents and Children is being produced by Open Field Pictures with the support of the Film Fund of the Czech Ministry of Culture and is scheduled to the released by Bioscop in spring 2008.