The ACF presents this film in cooperation with the Czech Centre London as part of their retrospective of Czech director Vojtěch Jasný. This film is an adaptation of Thomas Bernhard’s short story of the same name. It was originally produced for Austrian television and stars the celebrated Austrian actor Helmut Qualtinger in the lead role. The film presents an aging prisoner, respected in jail for his writing, who sees his prison as the place for self-fulfillment. In contrast to the other inmates, incarceration doesn’t break him down, on the contrary – it provides him with the time to work on his texts.

Austria & Germany (GDR) 1974, 77min, directed by Vojtěch Jasný, German with English subtitles

The screening is part of the Made in Prague, Hommage to Vojtěch Jasný series organised by the Czech Centre London.

Made in Prague Festival
Hommage to Vojtěch Jasný
Tuesday 3 – Sunday 29 November 2015

Celebrating the 90th birthday and achievements of an outstanding Czech filmmaker who has had a profound influence on films like Edgar Reitz’s Heimat and Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon, the season pays a tribute to his work. Starting with a triple bill of his three Cannes Film Festival winners at the Regent Street Cinema, it presents Jasný’s key films from his 50+ portfolio shot in Czechoslovakia, Austria, West Germany, USA and Canada, demonstrating the width and diversity of his filmmaking and his distinctive auteur flavour, poetic style and spiritual values. Part of Made in Prague Film Festival, 3 – 29 November 2015.
www.czechcentre.org.uk