Lions of Czech Film: The Way Out

October 14, 2015, 8:00 PM

“The Way Out reflects on the topic of marginalization and ethnic discrimination in a non-judgemental style, handling not only the characters’ day-to-day struggles, but also their vices through the sober lens of an insider, as only a field worker who knows them personally could.” ~Martin Kudláč, CINEUROPA

The Avalon Theatre features director Petr Václav's critically acclaimed film The Way Out (Cesta ven) on October 14 at 8 pm. The film won prestigious Czech Lion Awards for best film, director, screenplay, actress, among others. The film's gritty atmosphere unveils a young Romani couple Žaneta (Klaudia Dudová) and David (David Ištok) striving to live a “normal life,” providing for their daughter and Žaneta’s sister. To protect his family, David considers a life of crime, as the grim backdrop of unemployment, debt, and poverty weighs down. Žaneta wants a respectable life for her family, her sister to get an education, and an honest job. Trapped in the community’s anti-gypsy prejudice, can Žaneta find the inner strength to break out? (2014, 105 min., Czech with English subtitles)

The film was the first Czech film screened at the prestigious
Cannes Film Festival in the last 16 years.

Awards: Won seven 2015 Czech Lion Awards for best film, director, screenplay, actress (Klaudia Dudová),cinematography (Štěpán Kučera), editing (Florent Mangeot), and sound. Won four Czech Critics´ Awards for best film, director, screenwriter and leading actress.

About the Director:
The Way Out (Cesta ven) marks the director’s return to the theme of the Roma community. His debut feature Marian drew on his experience in documentary filmmaking and featured Roma non-actors living similar lives to those of their characters. Marian garnered the Silver Leopard at the 1996 Locarno Film Festival. The Way Out is the director’s first feature film since 2001’s Parallel Worlds (Paralelní světy) that won the Golden Kingfisher Award at the Plzeň Film Festival. For the past 13 years, he has lived in France and often collaborates with noted French writer Marie Despleschin.

Event Details:

Date: October 14, 8 pm

Location: Avalon Theatre
5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20015

Tickets: www.theavalon.org or at the box office