| A Prominent Patient | |
| Director: | Julius Ševčík |
| Producer: | Rudolf Biermann Julius Ševčík |
| Starring: | Karel Roden |
| Cinematography: | Martin Štrba |
| Editing: | Marek Opatrný |
| Studio: | In Film Praha Czech Television Radio and Television of Slovakia Arte[1] |
| Runtime: | 113 minutes |
| Country: | Czech Republic Slovakia |
| Language: | Czech Slovak English |
| Budget: | 54,000,000 CZK[2] |
| Gross: | 41,746,040 CZK[3] |
A Prominent Patient (Czech: '''Masaryk''') is a 2016 Czech-Slovak biographical drama film directed by Julius Ševčík.[4] It was screened in the Berlinale Special section at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival.[5] It won twelve Czech Lions including the Czech Lion for Best Film.[6] The film was first screened in Lucerna Kino.[7]
The film is set from 1937 to 1939. It is loosely based on the life of Jan Masaryk when he was the Czechoslovak ambassador to the United Kingdom. The film starts with the death of the first Czechoslovak president and Jan's father Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. Jan becomes Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Czechoslovakia faces aggression from Nazi Germany, which supports the Sudeten Germans. Masaryk tries to persuade the United Kingdom to help his homeland but the Munich Agreement is eventually settled and Czechoslovakia is forced to give up its borderlands to Germany. Jan Masaryk is devastated and leaves to the United States. He ends up in a sanatorium due to his psychological problems. He is treated by Doctor Stein. Their relationship is problematic because Stein is German. Masaryk is also helped by an American journalist, Marcia Davenport.[8]
Shooting consisted of two parts. In fall 2015, filming started in Slovakia and then moved to the Czech Republic in January 2016.[9] Some scenes were also shot in the Netherlands. Shooting took 40 days overall.[10] Scenes set in London were shot in Prague. There is a shot of the British parliament that was modeled from Czech realms by work of compositioners.[11]
A Prominent Patient has received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics. It holds 68% at Kinobox aggregator.[12] The film won twelve Czech Lion Awards and eight Sun in a Net Awards. Masaryk's participation in the Sun in a Net Awards received attention due to its success at Czech Lions.[13] [14] The film received lukewarm reviews from critics at the Berlin International Film Festival. Critics criticised cheap sex scenes, aggravation of the film and confusing plot. They also criticised some supporting actors.[15]
| Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Lion Awards | Best Film | Rudolf Biermann, Julius Ševčík | [16] [17] | |
| Best Director | Julius Ševčík | |||
| Best Actor in Leading Role | Karel Roden | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Arly Jover | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Oldřich Kaiser | |||
| Best Screenplay | Petr Kolečko, Alex Koenigsmark, Julius Ševčík | |||
| Best Cinematography | Martin Štrba | |||
| Best Editing | Marek Opatrný | |||
| Best Sound | Viktor Ekrt, Pavel Rejholec | |||
| Best Music | Michal Lorenc, Kryštof Marek | |||
| Best Scenography | Milan Býček | |||
| Best Costumes | Katarína Štrbová Bieliková | |||
| Best Masks | Lukáš Král | |||
| Best Poster | Rudolf Biermann, Julius Ševčík | |||
| Sun in a Net Awards | Best Film | Julius Ševčík | [18] | |
| Best Director | Julius Ševčík | |||
| Best Screenplay | Petr Kolečko, Alex Koenigsmark, Julius Ševčík | |||
| Best Cinematography | Martin Štrba | |||
| Best Editing | Marek Opatrný | |||
| Best Sound | Viktor Ekrt, Pavel Rejholec | |||
| Best Music | Michal Lorenc, Kryštof Marek | |||
| Best Scenography | Milan Býček | |||
| Best Director | Julius Ševčík | |||
| Best Actor in Leading Role | Karel Roden | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Oldřich Kaiser | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Arly Jover |