The Fifth Quarter
The essential idea of the project is to depict the modern history of the Prague ghetto; also known as Josefov or the "fifth quarter"; on the backdrop of concrete people's lives. They will speak about the genius loci of the place, about its turning points; it was many times that history marched through Old Times Square; as well as about how the place formed the lives, fates and dreams of the contemporary generation.
The people to speak about their relationship to the quarter will include many of its known and unknown natives; artists, doctors, actors, architecture and art historians, rabbis; illustrious as well as obscure figures with their bizarre stories. In this way, the film will point out the difference of the historical development of the ghetto in comparison with other Prague quarters; while the surrounding parts of Prague expanded outwards, the Jewish ghetto has always grown inwards. This "compression" concerned both buildings and lives of the people connected with the quarter. Having undergone many catastrophes, such as fires, floods, multiple exodus, and holocaust, the ghetto has become a fascinating backdrop for a whole millennium of people's lives and stories.
The people to speak about their relationship to the quarter will include many of its known and unknown natives; artists, doctors, actors, architecture and art historians, rabbis; illustrious as well as obscure figures with their bizarre stories. In this way, the film will point out the difference of the historical development of the ghetto in comparison with other Prague quarters; while the surrounding parts of Prague expanded outwards, the Jewish ghetto has always grown inwards. This "compression" concerned both buildings and lives of the people connected with the quarter. Having undergone many catastrophes, such as fires, floods, multiple exodus, and holocaust, the ghetto has become a fascinating backdrop for a whole millennium of people's lives and stories.
SLAVA
Sláva is an internationally sought-after opera director. But what does it truly mean to be a successful woman in the fluid world of international opera?
Her schedule includes five premieres over the next two years, including productions of La Forza del Destino in Essen, La Traviata at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, and Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Prague. Through each production, she translates the world around her; viewers are immersed in stories and then leave with something meaningful to reflect on or share. Her favorite operas are enhanced by her trademark radical reflections on society and personal truths. In Verdi’s tragic heroines and Wagner’s mythological gods, Sláva reflects on her own struggles with fate, identity, and the search for meaning in a world that feels increasingly unmoored. At its core, the film explores the intersection of art and life. It captures how Sláva’s losses, love, and search for belonging offstage informe her work onstage.
It raises fundamental questions: How much control do we have over our own narratives? Are we the authors of our fate or merely characters in a larger, inescapable story?
Through Slava’s avant-garde productions and her relentless pursuit of artistic and personal fulfillment, the film captures the essence of a woman who asks questions about herself to make sense of how we fit into the ever-changing world.
Her schedule includes five premieres over the next two years, including productions of La Forza del Destino in Essen, La Traviata at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, and Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Prague. Through each production, she translates the world around her; viewers are immersed in stories and then leave with something meaningful to reflect on or share. Her favorite operas are enhanced by her trademark radical reflections on society and personal truths. In Verdi’s tragic heroines and Wagner’s mythological gods, Sláva reflects on her own struggles with fate, identity, and the search for meaning in a world that feels increasingly unmoored. At its core, the film explores the intersection of art and life. It captures how Sláva’s losses, love, and search for belonging offstage informe her work onstage.
It raises fundamental questions: How much control do we have over our own narratives? Are we the authors of our fate or merely characters in a larger, inescapable story?
Through Slava’s avant-garde productions and her relentless pursuit of artistic and personal fulfillment, the film captures the essence of a woman who asks questions about herself to make sense of how we fit into the ever-changing world.