WAVES
(2024, CZ)
A BROADCAST THAT WILL CHANGE HISTORY
Written and directed by Jiří Mádl
The gripping and never-before-published stories of the journalist of Czechoslovak Radio.
Synopsis: Prague, 1968. Tomáš, a young technician caring for his rebellious younger brother, joins the international newsroom of Czechoslovak Radio, unaware that the StB, the Czech secret police, is watching every move. As political tensions escalate and Soviet tanks surround the radio building, Tomáš faces a choice: stand with the defiant journalists or save his brother. Inspired by the untold true story of journalists who risked everything to deliver independent news and keep their broadcasts alive during the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, this gripping political thriller blends dynamic cinematography, compelling performances, and a masterful mix of archival footage and fiction to capture the intense drama and courage of those fighting for free speech in a city under siege.
Audience Award, Karlovy Vary IFF 2024
Shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards
Best Foreign Language Film, Satellite Award 2024
Best Film, Czech Lion Awards 2024
MONDAY, March 23 @ 7:30 PM
TUESDAY, March 24 @ 5:00 PM
Jiří Mádl, Czech Republic, Slovakia 2024, 126’
Cast: Vojtěch Vodochodský, Tatiana Pauhofová, Stanislav Majer, Vojtěch Kotek, Martin Hoffmann
In partnership with Czech That Film Texas, Czech Center Museum Houston & Big Day Pictures.
Dramatic events in Prague leading up to the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia are recounted through the eyes of journalists working at Czechoslovak Radio. Hollywood Reporter
Jiří Mádl intertwines personal drama and political intrigue against the backdrop of the Prague Spring and the Warsaw Pact invasion, creating a tale of journalistic heroism. Cineuropa