Synopsis
Doctors Ondřej and Kateřina often touch on the intangible in their work.
In this feature-length documentary, the pioneers of Czech hospital palliative care discuss topics that have essentially disappeared from our lives. Against an environment of robotic medicine and deified white coats, focusing on the disease itself, the human being returns to the centre of their attention. In an intimate conversations, doctors and their patients look for answers to a question that has, unfortunately, been forgotten in hospitals where life ends for 60 to 70% of Czech society: “How does one live a quality life with an illness?”
Over a period of three years, director Adéla Komrzý has documented the Department of Palliative Care at the General University Hospital on Charles Square in Prague. This originated as a pilot project to serve as an example for other hospitals. A team of experts help patients find solutions and make decisions that may be of benefit to them in an era that offers endless possibilities for life to be extended artificially. Because life is not just a beating heart and expanding lungs…
In this feature-length documentary, the pioneers of Czech hospital palliative care discuss topics that have essentially disappeared from our lives. Against an environment of robotic medicine and deified white coats, focusing on the disease itself, the human being returns to the centre of their attention. In an intimate conversations, doctors and their patients look for answers to a question that has, unfortunately, been forgotten in hospitals where life ends for 60 to 70% of Czech society: “How does one live a quality life with an illness?”
Over a period of three years, director Adéla Komrzý has documented the Department of Palliative Care at the General University Hospital on Charles Square in Prague. This originated as a pilot project to serve as an example for other hospitals. A team of experts help patients find solutions and make decisions that may be of benefit to them in an era that offers endless possibilities for life to be extended artificially. Because life is not just a beating heart and expanding lungs…
Trailer
Articles

4. 5. 2022
Czech docs at DOK.fest München
Four Czech docs are part of DOK.fest München (May 4-15 in Munich / May 9-22 online): Intensive Life Unit (dir. Adéla Komrzý), Kapr Code (dir. Lucie Králová), René: The Prisoner of Freedom (dir. Helena Třeštíková) and At Full Throttle (dir. Miro Remo).
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5. 2. 2022
Czech Film Critics' Awards 2021 for Intensive Life Unit and Love, Dad
The winners of the Czech Film Critics' Awards 2021 were announced on Saturday, February 5, 2022. Adéla Komrzý's Intensive Life Unit is the Best Documentary Film and Diana Cam Van Nguyen's anidoc Love, Dad is the Best Short Film.
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7. 11. 2021
Czech docs at IDFA 2021
Intensive Life Unit by Adéla Komrzý will have International Premiere at IDFA 2021 in Luminous section. Museum of the Revolution by Srdjan Keča (co-produced by Lukáš Kokeš for nutprodukce) will have World Premiere in the same program section.
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11. 10. 2021
Silver Eye Award 2021 nominees and juries
The Institute of Documentary Film will give Silver Eye Award to the best short and feature documentaries from Central and Eastern Europe in the East Silver Market at the 25th Ji.hlava IDFF (October 26-31, 2021).
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29. 9. 2021
Ethical Challenges in Documentary Film (October 6)
On October 6 at 5:30 pm (CET), Adéla Komrzý (Intensive Life Unit) and Erika Hníková (Every Single Minute) will discuss what ethical challenges directors face when telling someone else’s story. Moderated by Patricia Aufderheide.
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12. 10. 2020
Nine projects supported by the IDF at DOK Industry
DOK Lepzig's DOK Industry line-up includes five projects from the Ex Oriente Film & East Doc Platform presented online during DOK Partner Presentations. In the programme of DOK Co-Pro Market you can find another four projects supported by the IDF.
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4. 3. 2020
Czech Docs at East Doc Platform 2020
Five upcoming documentaries will be presented at Czech Docs... Coming Soon, while six Czech/co-production projects will be pitched at East Doc Forum and another five will be part of East Doc Market.
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