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New Film COLETTE Reveals Love’s Power

(This article expired 08.02.2015.)

The Avalon Theatre presents its new line-up of films for the Lions of Czech Film series beginning with COLETTE, based on a novel by Pulitzer Prize nominee and former American University professor Arnošt Lustig, on February 12, at 8 pm. Set during WWII, COLETTE tells—in pure language of film—a tale of the power of love under extreme life circumstances. The film was shot in English and screens for one night only!

Arnošt Lustig is one of the world’s most renowned literary authors of our times. Lustig’s novel A Girl from Antwerp, from which the film COLETTE is based, draws on his personal experiences while incarcerated at Auschwitz during the Second World War. COLETTE tells—in pure language of film—a tale of the power of love under extreme life circumstances. It is a story of a man and his vigorous determination to escape from a hopeless life condition and his courage to face death. Lustig immigrated to the United States in 1970 and was a professor of Literature at the American University in Washington, D.C., until his death in 2011. (DIR: Milan Cieslar, 126 min., 2013, in English with Czech subtitles) 

Milan Cieslar has been directing films since 1985, and has been frequently represented at festivals with such audience favorites as Dirty Soul (2003), Snowy Night (2009), andLove is Love (2012). His film Spring of Life (2000) won four international film awards. Cieslar is a film director and producer for Happy Celluloid, a film and TV production company established in 1994.

Lions of Czech Film Series:
This marks the eighth year of the Embassy of the Czech Republic’s collaboration with the Avalon Theatre to present the Lions of Czech Film Series. This film series gives the Washington, DC, community an opportunity to view Czech films that are popular hits in Europe and have received numerous honors and awards at film festivals. Most of the films have received the prestigious Czech Lion Award, the Czech equivalent of an Academy Award. All of the films have limited distribution in the United States. The Lions of Czech Film Series offers an invaluable opportunity to see the best of Czech cinema in the nation’s capital.

Upcoming Screenings:  
Honeymoon (Líbánky): April 9, 8 pm (featuring a Q&A with Director Jan Hřebejk)                             
A picture-perfect wedding in the Czech countryside is crashed by an uninvited guest whose past secrets shed a shadow over the festivities. The mysterious outsider claims to be a friend of the groom, but the groom denies knowing him. Winning the affection of guests, the enigmatic stranger delves into the bride’s inner circle and makes her question her vows: “for better or for worse.” Director Jan Hřebejk partners with award-winning screenwriter Petr Jarchovský and an all star cast, including Aňa Geislerová and Stanislav Majer, on this melodrama which garnered Hřebejk the award for best director at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (2013). (DIR: Jan Hřebejk, 92 minutes, 2013, Czech with English subtitles)           

Lousy Bastards (Všiváci): June 11, 8 pm     
This multi-layered story follows the lives of two brothers who separate after falling in love with the same girl. One brother is an expert in neurosurgery and lives a bohemian life in the capital. The other is a veteran who served in Afghanistan and takes care of his two daughters in a small village. Although they share the same origins and social backgrounds, their lifestyles are completely different. However, they do have one thing in common—a longing for love. The debuting director and writer Roman Kašparovský entrusted the main roles to Czech leading actors Ondřej Vetchý and Jiří Langmajer. The film was made under the auspices of Czech Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra and the military scenes were shot at the Czech military base in Afghanistan. (DIR: Roman Kašparovský, 100 minutes, 2014, Czech with English subtitles)

Download the Program!  

Location:
The Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20015
Tickets may be purchased at the box office or online at www.theavalon.org.

Attachments

Czech_Lions_Brochure_2014_Final 2 MB PDF (Adobe Acrobat document) Feb 7, 2014