Through the Viewfinder of AK 47
According to American Photo Magazine, Antonín Kratochvíl is one of the 100 world's most important photographers. He payed for success and glory not only by hard work in places everybody want to leave. He had left home his firstborn son and has only seen him twenty years after emigrating. The different lives on opposite sides of the iron curtain divides them till this day. They look and talk the same, but the difference is remarkable between Antonín, the globetrotter and his son Michael who prefers to work home in his atelier.
Their mutual efforts to converge are the film's main storyline. Many of an unsaid issue could be revealed as they travel together to the biggest refugee camp in Jordan. Family and colleagues will support the testimony about a father and a son, divided by history.
Their mutual efforts to converge are the film's main storyline. Many of an unsaid issue could be revealed as they travel together to the biggest refugee camp in Jordan. Family and colleagues will support the testimony about a father and a son, divided by history.
Investigators
Investigators want to look at the phenomena and controversial topics that are spread in our society, but have no scientific background – e.g., some types of alternative medicine or the popular eso-themes such as telepathy, out-of-body experience, bioresonance, telepathy or clairvoyance.
Investigators try to explore each topic - sometimes amusingly, but clearly and seriously in general. Other protagonists - mainly supporters of one side or another (sceptics vs. advocates) are there (not) to help them. The aim of the project is to raise public awareness. However, the authors do not want to force their own opinion upon the audience - their goal is to present facts, so that the spectator is able to create his own opinion.
We currently witness an increasing blending of esotericism and science, which makes room for imposters and greedy people. The documentary series therefore aims at objective investigation of the phenomena on the frontier of knowledge of the contemporary science so as to “separate the wheat from the chaff”. The main goal is not to unequivocally prove or refute the phenomena (the film is not a scientific study) but to describe them from a rational point of view. Attention is thus drawn to the facts. All the topics have a common element: their advocates are presenting them as clear, real and existing, even though they have never been scientifically proven.
Investigators try to explore each topic - sometimes amusingly, but clearly and seriously in general. Other protagonists - mainly supporters of one side or another (sceptics vs. advocates) are there (not) to help them. The aim of the project is to raise public awareness. However, the authors do not want to force their own opinion upon the audience - their goal is to present facts, so that the spectator is able to create his own opinion.
We currently witness an increasing blending of esotericism and science, which makes room for imposters and greedy people. The documentary series therefore aims at objective investigation of the phenomena on the frontier of knowledge of the contemporary science so as to “separate the wheat from the chaff”. The main goal is not to unequivocally prove or refute the phenomena (the film is not a scientific study) but to describe them from a rational point of view. Attention is thus drawn to the facts. All the topics have a common element: their advocates are presenting them as clear, real and existing, even though they have never been scientifically proven.
The Taste of Celibacy
Slovak priest Peter Lucian Baláž (39) decided to write a book advocating the idea of consecrating married men. He asked his friend from the seminary – priest Michal Lajcha (35) who was about to leave the clergy because he had been in a long-term relationship and wanted to get married. He invited him to be a co-author of a book, and its first version was published only under Lajcha's name.
Anyway, sensing the danger of a recourse, he left his diocese and went to serve as a chaplain in prison. While Mr. Lajcha was in a really bad situation as his girlfriend had left him in the meantime and he found himself without a job, Mr. Baláž stayed in prison where he was shifted to the position of a guard. Mr. Baláž decided to go on with his mission.
In the meantime, the Amazon synod takes place in Vatican – its major topic is the consecration of married men. In the final report, the Pope gets a recommendation that he should allow the consecration of married men in Amazonia due to the actual lack of priests there. Mr. Baláž starts his investigation to find out who in Europe shares his opinions.
Anyway, sensing the danger of a recourse, he left his diocese and went to serve as a chaplain in prison. While Mr. Lajcha was in a really bad situation as his girlfriend had left him in the meantime and he found himself without a job, Mr. Baláž stayed in prison where he was shifted to the position of a guard. Mr. Baláž decided to go on with his mission.
In the meantime, the Amazon synod takes place in Vatican – its major topic is the consecration of married men. In the final report, the Pope gets a recommendation that he should allow the consecration of married men in Amazonia due to the actual lack of priests there. Mr. Baláž starts his investigation to find out who in Europe shares his opinions.
What about little Peter?
Peter is a teenage boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. He is no lightweight; at sixteen, he already weighs well over 100 kilos. When he is happy, you laugh with him. When he becomes angry, the laughter quickly subsides.
He can get aggressive tantrums and physically abuse the people closest to him. Therefore, his family lived through many hardships but also moments of joy. At the beginning of last year, he lost his mother.
While most fathers to children with autism spectrum disorder leave their families, Mr Jochec stays and takes care of the children alone. Now he faces the arduous task of not only tending to the needs of his autistic son but also trying not to neglect his teenage daughter. When his wife was still alive, she stayed at home with the kids, and he went to work. As a widower, he had to quit his job and become a stay-at-home dad.For the first time in his life, he has to run the household. “I had no idea how exhausting it was. It's much harder than going to work,” he admits.
Will he be able to cope with the task of raising two kids? His son Peter needs constant care and attention. Can a person devote their entire life to another? How much are we willing to sacrifice for the most vulnerable, be it individuals or society as a whole? Where are the limits of caretaking?
Is love enough?
The film's protagonist is Mr Jochec, who has to juggle raising his children, securing the family financially and navigating the complexities of social services. It tells a story of the Jochec family and partially the life at the Nautis Autism Centre, where Peter goes to stay regularly each month. It avoids giving direct answers but nevertheless highlights the difficulty of caring for disabled individuals.
Film wants to explore the trajectory of the sense of belonging and asks the question whether it is possible to find joy even in the most difficult life situations. It is a poetic probe into life on the edge of social, physical and emotional possibility.
He can get aggressive tantrums and physically abuse the people closest to him. Therefore, his family lived through many hardships but also moments of joy. At the beginning of last year, he lost his mother.
While most fathers to children with autism spectrum disorder leave their families, Mr Jochec stays and takes care of the children alone. Now he faces the arduous task of not only tending to the needs of his autistic son but also trying not to neglect his teenage daughter. When his wife was still alive, she stayed at home with the kids, and he went to work. As a widower, he had to quit his job and become a stay-at-home dad.For the first time in his life, he has to run the household. “I had no idea how exhausting it was. It's much harder than going to work,” he admits.
Will he be able to cope with the task of raising two kids? His son Peter needs constant care and attention. Can a person devote their entire life to another? How much are we willing to sacrifice for the most vulnerable, be it individuals or society as a whole? Where are the limits of caretaking?
Is love enough?
The film's protagonist is Mr Jochec, who has to juggle raising his children, securing the family financially and navigating the complexities of social services. It tells a story of the Jochec family and partially the life at the Nautis Autism Centre, where Peter goes to stay regularly each month. It avoids giving direct answers but nevertheless highlights the difficulty of caring for disabled individuals.
Film wants to explore the trajectory of the sense of belonging and asks the question whether it is possible to find joy even in the most difficult life situations. It is a poetic probe into life on the edge of social, physical and emotional possibility.
Dajori
The forthcoming film Dajori (which means mother in Romani) tells the story of the main character Marie (45), a mother of three children who lives an ordinary life in a block of flats in Varnsdorf with her husband Enrico (50). For a long time now, Varnsdorf has been classified as an area whose population is threatened by poverty and social exclusion.
Marie assumes the role of the female head of her extended family and decides to help her younger sister who has ended up homeless with her nine children. Two-year-old Anabel and nine-year-old Samuel end up in the foster care of Marie and Enrico. In the following three years, the film follows the dynamics of the new family and Maria's efforts to compensate the traumatized children with motherly love and at the same time raise them according to her ideals. While Iveta is unable to get out of the drug addiction even for the sake of the children, Samuel enters puberty and challenges Maria's efforts.
Marie assumes the role of the female head of her extended family and decides to help her younger sister who has ended up homeless with her nine children. Two-year-old Anabel and nine-year-old Samuel end up in the foster care of Marie and Enrico. In the following three years, the film follows the dynamics of the new family and Maria's efforts to compensate the traumatized children with motherly love and at the same time raise them according to her ideals. While Iveta is unable to get out of the drug addiction even for the sake of the children, Samuel enters puberty and challenges Maria's efforts.