The Beginning of the World

Colour, 35mm
Czech Republic, 2000, 86 min
Section: Czech Films

Synopsis

The three parts of this continuing story featuring the same characters are tied to one place (the historical southern Bohemian town of Telč) and to one time plane. The filmmakers follow the lives of individuals seen against a backdrop of magical phenomena and the events that took place as a new century arrived. Part 1 – Murder with a Whisper Easter 1999. On Good Friday the editor of a local newspaper is appointed by his boss to interview the record holder in the javelin and a somewhat naive Moravian poet. Part 2 – Twilight of Hope On August 11th, the day of the solar eclipse, a young man and father wait out the course of an hour to hear the final diagnosis of his illness. Part 3 – The Foolish Virgins Fate brings three completely different couples together in an unusual manner on New Year’s Eve and throughout its magical night.

About the director

Pavel Melounek (b. 1957) graduated in journalism from Charles University, Prague. He has worked as a journalist, film critic and columnist, and has written four books on Czech film. Since the beginning of the nineties he has been involved in film production. The episode Murder with a Whisper is his directorial debut. Dan Svátek (b. 1975) graduated from film school in Zlín. He has made several documentaries and short dramatic films, of which Owl River (1997) won several domestic and international awards. The episode Twilight of Hope is his professional film debut. Vladimír Drha (b, 1944) has dozens of films to his credit – feature films, TV movies and productions, documentaries – which have brought him many awards at domestic and foreign festivals. He wrote the episode The Foolish Virgin from The Beginning of the World and was also the film’s co-ordinator.