Film Archive

Forman vs. Forman

Special Events 2019 / Forman vs. Forman / Czech Republic, France 2019

Forman vs. Forman is a comprehensive portrait of the Oscar-winning Czech director. The movie is unique for its ingenious compilation of images drawing on existing footage and also on hitherto unknown shots discovered in the collections of friends and colleagues. On set and in interviews the filmmaker contemplates the notion of freedom and its limitations.

Synopsis

Forman vs. Forman is a highly resourceful portrait of the Oscar-winning Czech director. The movie is unique for its ingenious compilation of images drawing on archive footage and also unfamiliar shots of the filmmaker’s life discovered in the collections of friends and colleagues. Miloš Forman sanctioned the creators’ idea to make the film, supported by the ARTE network, but he himself never got to be part of the project. Nevertheless, he is present in the scenes taken from his movie sets and through his reflections: in recordings from the early 1980s with Věra Chytilová and Jaromil Jireš he discusses freedom, creative work and the restrictions on both. The celebrated filmmaker’s autobiographical reminiscences are narrated by his son Petr Forman.

Eva Zaoralová (2012)

About the film

81 min / Color, Black & White, DCP

Director Helena Třeštíková, Jakub Hejna / Screenplay Helena Třeštíková / Dir. of Photography David Cysař / Editor Jakub Hejna / Producer Kateřina Černá / Production Negativ / Coproduction Česká televize, ARTE G.E.I.E, Alegria Productions / Sales Negativ

About the director

Helena Třeštíková (b. 1949, Prague). Selected filmography: Marriage Stories (1987, TV series), René (2008), Katka (2009), Private Universe (2011), Mallory (2015), Doomed Beauty (2016), Forman vs. Forman (2019)

Jakub Hejna (b. 1976, Prague). Filmography: Theatre Svoboda (2011), Doomed Beauty (2016), Forman vs. Forman (2019)