We Have Never Been Modern (Film Screening)

Amidst a thriving Baťa-esque town, nestled in the scenic foothills of the majestic Tatra mountains, stands a factory, whose young director is, for his day (it's 1937), pleasingly modern in approach. Yet, don’t be fooled, the film’s protagonist is actually his wife Helena (Eliška Křenková). The aspiring doctor is soon to give birth, yet her resolute gaze into her family’s rosy future is suddenly darkened by the discovery of the body of a newborn intersex baby in the vibrant factory's courtyard. Helena’s innate empathy, intensified by her pregnancy, isn’t satisfied by the conspicuously prompt solution to the mystery. A stirring detective drama with a progressive and profoundly human perspective on a theme controversial not only shortly before the unexpected war, but also decades later.

Inspired by real events, We Have Never Been Modern received multiple international awards and twelve Czech Lion nominations.

Director: Matěj Chlupáček / Screenplay: Miro Šifra / Dir. of Photography: Martin Douba / Music: Simon Goff / Sound: Peter Hilčanský, Pavel Rejholec / Editor: Pavel Hrdlička  / Producer: Maja Hamplová, Matěj Chlupáček / Production: BARLETTA 

Cast: Eliška Křenková, Miloslav König, Milan Ondrík, Richard Langdon, Martha Issová, Luboš Veselý, Ladislav Hampl, Marián Mitaš 

Matěj Chlupáček (1994) is a Czech film director and producer. He made his feature debut Touchless at the age of eighteen and has since become one of the most distinctive voices of contemporary Czech cinema. His work includes acclaimed TV series such as Rats—which won the Czech Lion Award and the Czech Critics’ Award—and The Daughter of a Nation.

His second feature film We Have Never Been Modern (Úsvit) premiered in the Official Competition at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and was also screened at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Chlupáček is a co-founder of the production company Barletta, collaborating with international partners including Netflix, HBO Max, Canal+, ZDF, and Czech Television.

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