The protagonists of David Vondráček’s love story are Jan and Jana, two street people who have found a home in an abandoned graveyard in the Prague suburb of Strašnice. The cemetery’s wall and overgrown trees form a physical and metaphorical border between two worlds. For Jana, living in a crypt represents safety, and she is relatively comfortable there. However, it is also a trap from which she is unable to escape. At the start of the film, the pair both speak about obtaining IDs and improving their lives, though in reality their situation worsens and they continue on a self-destructive path. The graveyard’s administrators announce a renovation but instead of finding a new place to stay, Jan and Jana increase their drinking and refuse help. “However I end up, that’s my free decision,” says Jana, though the results of her false pride soon become apparent. This documentary does not close its eyes to the unpleasant aspects of homelessness, and shows the impact a dysfunctional family background or a personal tragedy can have on a person’s fate. 

Director David Vondráček will be present for a Q&A after the screening.

In cooperation with the Czech Centre Brussels.

Film trailer.

This screening is part of the One World in Brussels 2012 film festival.