Prague - The shooting in Prague of a new Czech-German-Slovak period film, Tři sezony v pekle (Three Seasons in Hell), will end on 17 November, starring Kryštof Hádek as a young poet resembling Czech author Egon Bondy.
"The story has been inspired by young Bondy's diaries, but very indirectly," says director Tomáš Mašín. "The films is not trying to be a documentary about Bondy, and in many instances it is pure fiction."
The characteristics of the main protagonist, Ivan Heinz, in many points approximate Bondy's philosophy and life attitudes, but, says Mašín, the plot line is "new and unique".
Journey to freedom
The year is 1947. Ivan is 19 and in love with surrealism and his new sweetheart, Jana the poetess. But the arrival of the communist regime gives an abrupt end to Ivan's journey to freedom.
His partner Jana is played by Karolina Gruszka, a Polish actress who appeared in one of the main roles in David Lynch's Inland Empire. The other parts went to Jan Kraus, Martin Huba, Luboš Kostelný, Miroslav Krobot, Matěj Ruppert and Táňa Paufohová.
The filming started in August. The crew spent some time in Liberec and Hradec Králové, but most scenes were filmed in Prague, including the former headquarters of ČSOB bank on the corner of Senovážné náměstí.
"It is a historical building just before reconstruction. We used it to set up an extravagant apartment for the main heroine," says film spokeswoman Uljana Donátová.
Another filming location was the art nouveau Municipal House.
Skinny actors
Evoking the atmosphere of post-war Prague was a true challenge, but the crew were still able to find places that, after some modifications, look authentic. The choice of the cast, including extras, was also meant to contribute to the film's authenticity.
"After the war, people were skinny so we had to look for thin people. Kryštof too had to slim down in order to play an intellectual who occasionally has nothing to eat," says Donátová.
The film's budget is CZK 80 million, way above the average of Czech film industry. Supported financially by the Czech State Cinematography Fund, Czech Television and Eurimage, the film was produced by the company Dawson.
Three Seasons in Hell will reach the cinemas in autumn 2009, subtitled Dokud sníš, nejseš mrtvej (You're not dead as long as you dream).
