Film Archive

In the Shadow

Czech Films 2012–2013 2013 / Ve stínu / Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Poland, Israel 2012

Police captain Hakl is investigating an apparently routine break-in at a jewellery store, but he soon discovers he’s up against a complex political conspiracy. Will he find his opponents’ weaknesses or will he succumb to his own? A period spectacle that contemplates a simple notion: every era needs its heroes. The film won nine Czech Lions and five Czech Film Critics Awards.

Synopsis

When police captain Hakl is assigned to investigate a jewellery store robbery, he has no idea that what appears to be a routine case will morph into a complex conspiracy, some of whose participants have yet to discover exactly what role they’re supposed to be playing. The precarious situation lingers even after the arrival of German major Zenke, who takes over the case, although he doesn’t go about his business with any enthusiasm or conviction. Will justice triumph even if the Communist secret police try to obstruct it? And at what price? This meticulously rendered 1950s drama progressively shows that everyone has his weaknesses, but circumstances don’t necessarily allow them to be exploited for the common good. A period spectacle combining a genre form with moral appeal which looks back to a dark chapter of Czechoslovak history and asks what sacrifices have to be made in order for a person to protect his honour, not only for himself, but also in the eyes of his children.

About the film

106 min / Color, DCP

Director David Ondříček / Screenplay Marek Epstein, David Ondříček, Misha Votruba / Dir. of Photography Adam Sikora / Music Jan P. Muchow, Michal Novinski / Editor Michal Lánský / Producer David Ondříček, Kryštof Mucha, Ehud Bleiberg / Production Lucky Man Films s.r.o., Bleiberg Entertainment / Cast Ivan Trojan, Sebastian Koch, Soňa Norisová, Jiří Štěpnička, David Švehlík / Contact Bleiberg Entertainment Inc., Falcon a.s. / Distributor Falcon a.s.
www: www.vestinufilm.cz

About the director

David Ondříček (b. 1969, Prague), son of renowned cameraman Miroslav Ondříček, is a former child actor and one of the most distinctive Czech directors to come out of the post-revolution era. While studying documentary film at FAMU, he debuted with the feature film Whisper (1996), which, thanks in part to its expressive music score, proved a favourite for a whole generation of viewers. Similar success awaited Loners (2000), which was produced by his own company, Lucky Man Films. After the comedy One Hand Can’t Clap (2003) he came up with the aesthetically refined Grandhotel (2006) which premiered at the Berlinale. Long in development, In the Shadow won prizes in all the main categories, both Czech Lion and Czech Film Critics’ awards. In 2013 David Ondříček received an award from Variety magazine’s panel, "Ten Directors To Watch”, which draws attention to the most interesting directors of the previous year.

Contacts

Bleiberg Entertainment Inc.
225 S. Clark Drive, CA 90212, Beverly Hills
United States of America
Phone: +1 310 273 1034
Fax: +1 310 273 0007
E-mail: [email protected]

Falcon a.s.
Radlická 3185/1c, 150 00, Praha 5
Czech Republic
Phone: +420 224 422 222
E-mail: [email protected]