Film Archive

Trainwreck

Czech Films 2002 / Náraz / Czech Republic 2001

Three soldiers are travelling by train. Which of the passengers will stand up to their alcohol-inspired brutal aggression when they begin hassling two fellow passengers who happen to be Romany?

Synopsis

Three young Czech soldiers take the night train to Prague on their first leave. In their drunkenness they begin to hassle a couple of young Romanies in their compartment. The other passengers and even the conductor are afraid to stand up to them. But then the most sensitive of the three, Jakub, finally decides to face the aggression of these questionable friends. This antiracist drama won Best Director at the 2001 Columbia University festival, and a 2001 grant from the Miloš Forman Fund.

About the film

17 min / Black & white, 16 mm

Director Michal Sedláček / Screenplay Michal Sedláček / Dir. of Photography Robert Novák / Music Béla Bartók (Iva Bittová) / Editor Michal Sedláček / Producer Michal Sedláček / Cast Rosťa Novák, Marek Němec, Jiří Ployhar, Soňa Kalejová, František Kroščen, Zdena Hadrbolcová, Pavel Pípal

About the director

Michal Sedláček (b. 1967, Pilsen) graduated in journalism from Charles University, Prague. While in the US he completed several screenwriting and directing courses at Georgetown University. He has been studying direction at the Columbia University film school since 1998.