Life of Czech composer Smetana, his search for love and artistic inspiration despite hearing loss, and quest for his muse Eliska. Navigating personal and professional challenges and the founding of the National Theatre in Prague.
Acting
Neužil captures genius unraveling with unsettling precision.
Production
Period Prague recreated with almost suspiciously detailed grime.
Score
Obviously Smetana's own — and yes, they use THAT piece.
Director
Marek Najbrt
Václav Neužil
Bedřich Smetana
Sarah Haváčová
Betty Smetanová
Denisa Barešová
Eliška Krásnohorská
Jana Plodková
Lízinka
Viktor Zavadil
Drvota
Lucie Ducháčková
Žofie Schwarzová
Adéla Dobešová
Boženka Smetanová
Robert Hájek
Josef Schwarz
Pavel Řezníček
Karel Sladkovský
Igor Bareš
František Ladislav Rieger
Petr Lněnička
Stárek
Jiří Maryško
JUDr. Josef Dašek
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Neužil spent months learning piano for scenes where Smetana plays; most were cut. He reportedly found this 'hilariously cruel.'
The National Theatre's founding is still called 'the golden age' in Czech education — this film dares to ask who was sacrificed for that myth.
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