Published: July 04, 2023| 11:00 AM

Tuesday’s two films competing in the Proxima Competition are linked by the theme of scorching heat. At 4:00 p.m., director Thomas Imbach sets off from the Karlovy Vary Municipal Theatre on a journey to meet the cinematographical sun of Jean-Luc Godard, with the world premiere of Say God Bye.

This original and playful documentary works not only as a road movie, but also as a Godard masterclass about perceiving the world through cinema. But will the director, who previously presented his documentary film Nemesis at KVIFF, be able to approach the legendary filmmaker’s flaming personality without getting burned?

Brutal Heat, a Czech contender in the competition, explores the theme of scorching heat more directly. Solar hyperactivity is heating the Earth up to an unbearable level and no-one knows at what temperature the human character starts to melt. The world is changing, even in a sleepy town, where an 18-year-old lad gets stranded on his way to a family cottage. 

Director Albert Hospodářský’s fresh perspective goes beyond conventions and asks whether such a situation can have a silver lining. The film will be presented to the festival audience for the first time at the Karlovy Vary Municipal Theatre at 7:00 p.m.