Writer and Director: Jirí Mádl
Heroism in the face of State oppression comes in many forms in wartime movies and those depicting the middle years of the twentieth century, but Jirí Mádl’s Waves which receives its UK premiere at the 29th Made in Prague Festival depicts an everyday form of resistance as a team of radio journalists battle censorship in 1960s Czechoslovakia. Caught between a partisan shut down of corrupting Western influences (such as 60s girl group The Ronettes) and the 1968 Russian invasion, the role of screen journalists in any era and certainly here in Mádl’s film is always to demonstrate professional integrity in the face of those trying to subvert the news for political ends.
Technician Tomáš accidentally joins the International Life Editorial Office when he tracks his errant younger brother down to an interview and wins the job for himself. Once there he becomes swept up in the determination of Milan Weiner, their flagship presenter, and fellow journalist Věra Šťovíčková-Heroldová who insist on using their platform to tell the truth to the Czech people, much to the annoyance of the station bosses. As the International Life Editorial Office enjoys a brief moment of expressive freedom when a more democratic leader is elected, they must soon find more skilful ways to retain the trust of their listeners.
Movies about journalism, from Spotlight to Mr Jones, All the President’s Men to She Said feature a team of intrepid writers and staff who risk physical harm to reveal the truth and Waves is no different, following a team of individuals over several years as the restrictions of the post-war era shape freedom of the press which Mádl’s film captures really well. News is never static and here there is the sense of a country continually and sometimes rapidly evolving, and Mádl emphasises the power of information and how that is shared with ordinary people, allowing them some agency over their lives.
The film is anchored by strong performances including Vojtěch Vodochodský as Tomáš who brings a quiet determination to the role, caught between protecting his careless brother and the job he comes to love, Táňa Pauhofová as Věra the international correspondent who works harder than anyone and Stanislav Majer as Milan bringing gravitas to the head of the team. It’s a complex story with lots of new elements to keep track of as the years pass, but Mádl keeps it largely on track and there is a huge amount to enjoy in Petr Kunc’s production design and Martin Ziaran’s cinematography which play a muted but beautiful 60s colour palette reminiscent of the precision of Tomas Alfredson’s Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy set only a few years later.
Waves creates its context well because unlike its American counterparts, the journalists here are in almost constant danger from police informers among their own ranks, from the secret services who can storm their office and claim material any time and from those who choose to collaborate rather than risk personal danger, and Waves is very clear on the choice for each individual, to leave for a safer life elsewhere or to stay and fight for truth and the country they know is worth saving. Mádl manages the escalation points really well and although Waves is a long film with lots of detail that UK audience might miss, that central dilemma, told through Tomáš’ story is compelling and inspiring.
Waves is screening at the 29th Made in Prague Film Festival.
