Vaclav Havel on Film
It seems strange that on the day of the death of Vaclav Havel, I posted several texts on the high quality of the IDF (Institute of Film) website (see below) and now I do it again to make you know the text published there to remember Vaclav Havel, and the many films he took part in. Read here:
Former Czech President, dissident, prolific playwright, essayist, and film director Václav Havel (October 5, 1936 – December 18, 2011) appeared in countless documentary films that closely traced both his political moves and moments from his personal life. Here are just some of them…
In 2003, David Remnick of the The New Yorker described Václav Havel’s last day in office as follows: “On Sunday night, February 2nd, Czech radio and television broadcast Havel’s farewell address. He took pains to thank his wife and his supporters. To all those who felt disappointed “or have simply found me hateful, I sincerely apologize and trust that you will forgive me.” Havel flashed his country the peace sign and his work was done.” [David Remnick, “Exit Havel”, The New Yorker, 10 February 2003].
Havel’s work and role were incredibly difficult, crucial and irreplaceable, as any of these documentary films attest. Although he was never too comfortable in front of the camera – probably much happier when staging his own scenes in Leaving – many of the films give a good idea of his warm and charismatic personality, doing away with the myth of a shy, awkward president and revealing instead his calm yet strong-willed determination.
Screened at Visions du réel, Crossing Europe, Hot Docs, DOK Leipzig, Berlinale’s Forum and other festivals, Citizen Havel (2008) may be the best-known film on Havel. Shot over the span of 13 years, it was originally helmed by Pavel Koutecký who made a number of other Havel-themed docs. After Koutecký’s death in 2006, the project was taken up by director and cinematographer Míra Janek.
Please watch them if you get a chance, Václav Havel, Prague – Castle can be streamed in East Silver’s video library; many of them are available on the VOD portal Doc Alliance Films.
