Archive of films Some Secrets / Výlet

Czech Republic
2002, 103 min

Section: Czech Films 2002-2003
Year: 2003

A family trip which transforms into a tragicomic psychological drama. Claiming that it was her son’s wish, Grandma Valerie is determined to transfer his urned remains from the small Czech town to their native Slovakia. Her daughter-in-law accompanies her, as do her two adult granddaughters, one nearing the end of her pregnancy with a five-year-old in tow, the other with her husband. Tense relations and conflict come to a head along the way, and the truth erupts from under layers of pretence and deferential consideration. The truths revealed are at times surprising, at others bitter or even comic, but always cleansing.

Synopsis

A family trip which transforms into a tragicomic psychological drama – this is the theme of the second feature by young and talented Czech director Alice Nellis. Claiming that it was her son’s wish, Grandma Valerie is determined to transfer his urned remains from the small Czech town of Rakovník to their native Slovakia. Her daughter-in-law agrees to accompany her, as do her two adult granddaughters. The older, Ilona, is nearing the term of her second pregnancy (she’s already got a five-year-old boy). The younger sister, Zuzana, is accompanied by her good-hearted husband Pavel. Their relationship has long been on the rocks, and Zuzana, who is carrying on with a bohemian artist, is contemplating divorce. Neither of the girls gets along much with their nosey and anxious mother who is ever meddling in their lives. The family sets off in two cars for the dead man’s hometown. Tense relations and conflicts come to a head along the way, and the truth erupts from under layers of pretence and deferential consideration. The truths revealed are at times surprising, at others bitter or even comic, but always cleansing. The director cast the lead roles of the mother and her two daughters with one of the most popular Czech actresses, Iva Janžurová, and her own two daughters, Sabina and Theodora Remundová.

About the director

Alice Nellis (b. 1971, České Budějovice), screenwriter and director, studied flute at the Prague Conservatoire (1989-93), English at Charles University (1989-95) and then screenwriting and script editing at Prague’s Film Academy (FAMU). She once earned a living playing the flute in a renaissance ensemble, translating books and teaching English. She has directed for the theatre, written the script for Connoisseurs (1996, dir. Stanislav Zeman), and shot several television documentaries, including: Follia (1997), Necessary Regulatory (1999) and The Miserable (1999). Nellis debuted in features with the bittersweet comedy Eeny Meeny (1999), filmed from her own script (for which she received a 1998 Maxim Award at FAMU). Some Secrets (2002) is her second writer-director feature, stylistically reminiscent of her debut. The film was awarded at home and abroad: a 2000 FAMU Maxim, the 2002 Czech Film Critics’ Award – Kristián, a Czech Lion for Best Screenplay, and Best New Director at the San Sebastian IFF, among others.

Contacts

Filmia s.r.o.
Musílkova 49, 150 00, Praha 5
Czech Republic
Tel: +420257 533 353
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.filmia.cz

Česká televize
Kavčí hory, 140 70, Praha 4
Czech Republic
Tel: +420 261 131 111
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.ceskatelevize.cz, ct24.cz

CinemArt, a.s.
Národní 60/28, 111 21, Praha 1
Czech Republic
Tel: +420 224 949 110
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.cinemart.cz

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About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	Czech Films 2002-2003

Director:	Alice Nellis
Screenplay:	Alice Nellis
Dir. of Photography:	Ramunas Grečius
Music:	Tomáš Polák
Editor:	Josef Valušiak, Adam Dvořák
Producer:	Pavel Šolc
Production:	Filmia s.r.o., Česká televize / Czech Television, ARS Media
Cast:	Iva Janžurová, Theodora Remundová, Igor Bareš, Sabina Remundová, Naďa Kotršová, Jakub Chrbolka, Jiří Macháček
Contact:	Filmia s.r.o., Česká televize, CinemArt, a.s.

Guests

Iva Janžurová

Actress

Sabina Remundová

Actress

Theodora Remundová

Film Director

Jiří Macháček

Actor

Martin Šulík

Film Director

Anna Geislerová

Actress