Jitka Rudolfová (1979) is a director and screenwriter. She graduated from the Higher Vocational Film School in Písek (now the Film Academy of Miroslav Ondříček) and eventually studied directing and screenwriting at FAMU in Prague, where her student projects received numerous awards.
After graduating, she began her professional career by filming documentaries about the work of her more experienced colleagues, so-called "Films about Film" (Věra Chytilová, Bohdan Sláma, and Michaela Pavlátová). Her feature film debut was "Desperate Losers" (2009), and she has also directed the drama "Ecstasy" (2013) and the fairy-tale film "The Clockmaker's Apprentice" (2019). She has also worked for television, contributing to the drama series "Innocent Lies."
Awards
Czech Lion
2013 - nomination - Ecstasy (Best Director)
2013 - nomination - Ecstasy (Best Screenplay)
FAMUfest
2006 - victory - Marta and Berta 26 (Best Film)
2005 - victory - Lucie Is Already in Bed (Best Documentary)
2005 - victory - Dagmar Táborská Award for the Most Original Work
2004 - victory - Meat on a Plate (Best Film of the First Year (Aramis Award))
2004 - victory - Trigger Movement (Best Film of the First Year - Honorable Mention)
Ferdinand Mazurek (1979) is a Czech cinematographer.
He graduated from the Vocational School of Graphic Arts, specializing in photography, and later studied cinematography at FAMU (Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts) in Prague. Currently, he works as a cinematographer. He has been devoted to visual arts, especially painting, for many years. He is a member of the artistic groups Mazačkáři and Secret Cross.
He has collaborated with Jitka Rudolfová on films such as Ecstasy, Innocent Lies - My Truth, Desperate Losers, The Clockmaker's Apprentice, and TV series like Single Lady and Taxi Driver.
As a cinematographer or camera operator, he has worked on many other TV series and films, including documentaries.
Marek CPIN
costume designer
Zuzana MAZÁČOVÁ
architect
Jana PLODKOVÁ
Character: Klára
Klára is a woman in her forties who encounters a series of unexpected situations in life. However, she handles herself and all the troubles with a sense of humor and a good dose of sarcasm.
Jana Plodková (1981) graduated from high school and then studied acting at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts (JAMU) in Brno. She won the first prize for her acting performance in the play "The Animal," directed by Sergej Fedotov, at the International Theatre Festival of High Schools in Warsaw in 2003.
After completing her studies, her acting career began at the Polárka Theatre. Later, she appeared at the Na Fidlovačce Theatre and then settled at HaDivadlo, where she performed in plays such as "The Director's Box," "Yvonne, Princess of Burgundy," "Incident," and "Renata Kalenská" (nominated for the Sazka Award for Best Actor).
She appeared in the Czech short film "The Best is Foamy" and also in the Danish drama "Prague," where she caught the attention of Jan Svěrák, who cast her in the supporting role of Čárkovaný in the comedy "Empties." Some of her more recent films include "Extraordinary Event," "Common Failures," and "The Island."
Awards
Czech Lion
2009 - winner - Protektor (Best Actress)
2012 - nomination - Polski film (Best Supporting Actress)
2013 - nomination - Ecstasy (Best Actress)
2015 - nomination - Lost in Munich (Best Actress)
2020 - nomination - Babovky (Best Actress)
2023 - nomination - Silent Secret (Best Actress)
Czech Film Critics' Awards
2013 - nomination - Ecstasy (Best Lead Actress)
Zuzana KRONEROVÁ
Character: Klára's Mother
Very extravagant, appearing crazy but positively crazy, she wears brightly colored clothing, and her apartment and, in fact, her whole life reflect this eccentricity. She doesn't care about what others think of her.
Zuzana Kronerová (1952) was born in Martin and comes from a renowned acting family. Her father was the prominent Slovak actor Jozef Kroner, and her mother was actress Terézie Hurbanová-Kronerová. While attending high school, she contemplated studying philology. However, influenced by the acting environment, she applied to the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, where she eventually decided to study acting. She began her professional career in 1974 at the Children's and Youth Theater in Trnava. She quickly made a name for herself on television, appearing in numerous productions even during her studies. She isn't one of those actresses who captivate the audience with their charm but rather with the strength of her personality. She particularly cherishes her early work in the fairy tale "Vyměněná princezna" where she acted alongside her father. She reprised this family collaboration in projects like the television comedy "Mišo". She also appeared in Juraj Jakubisko's film "Nevera po slovensky", the comedy "Ženský zákon", and the series "Vivat Beňovský".
In 1979, she joined the New Scene in Bratislava and also performed at the Slovak National Theater. She has been a permanent member of the Astorka Theater since its establishment. Her roles there include performances in "Romeo and Juliet", "Tichý dom", and "Pred odchodom na odpočinek". After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, there was a significant decline in the production of original Slovak television content. However, Zuzana Kronerová compensated for this by appearing regularly in supporting roles in Czech films from the mid-1990s onwards. She was cast in films such as "Lea", "Pupendo", "Štěstí", and "Václav". In the film "Venkovský učitel", she played the role of the main character's mother. She won the Czech Lion for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Divoké včely". Audiences also loved her in one of Bohdan Sláma's latest films, "Bába z ledu". She also appeared in films like "Chata na prodej", "Zbožňovaný", and "Krajina ve stínu". In Slovakia, she is considered one of the most significant actresses on the local theater scene.
Awards:
Czech Lion:
2017 - winner - Ice Mother (Best Actress)
2016 - nomination - Rudý kapitán (Best Supporting Actress)
2015 - nomination - Domácí péče (Best Supporting Actress)
2010 - nomination - Habermannův mlýn (Best Supporting Actress)
2008 - nomination - Country Teacher (Best Supporting Actress)
2001 - winner - Divoké včely (Best Supporting Actress)
Czech Film Critics' Awards:
2017 - winner - Ice Mother (Best Actress)
Jaroslav PLESL
Character: Martin
Works at an unnamed architectural firm as a regular designer. A typical middle-aged man in crisis.
Jaroslav Pesl (1974) studied at a secondary pedagogical school in Litomyšl. He gained his first engagement at the City Theater in Zlín. Among the significant roles he portrayed there are Ivan Alexandrovich Khlestakov in "The Government Inspector", Michal in Jirásek's "Lucerna", and Valer in "The Miser". He also guest stars in theaters such as Divadlo Na Jezerce in Prague or the F.X.Šalda Theater in Liberec. In Dejvice, he appeared in "The Story of an Ordinary Madness" or Chekhov's "Three Sisters", but his biggest success so far came from the leading role of the braggart Christy Mahon in "The Playboy of the Western World", for which he won the Alfred Radok Award in 2008. He also succeeded as the host of the Divadelní noviny and Sazka awards or one of the editions of the Short Film Festival. After several smaller roles on television, his practically first and most significant films entered cinemas in 2006: "Rules of Lies", where he played the silent and unpredictable Martin, and "Grandhotel". From newer films, he appeared in "The Last Race", "Arvéd", or "Extraordinary Event".
Awards
Czech Lion Awards
2017 - nomination - "Kvarteto" (Best Actor)
2014 - winner - "Díra u Hanušovic" (Best Supporting Actor)
2013 - nomination - "Rozkoš" (Best Supporting Actor)
2012 - nomination - "Four Suns" (Best Actor)
2010 - nomination - "Největší z Čechů" (Best Actor)
2006 - nomination - "Grandhotel" (Best Supporting Actor)
Czech Film Critics' Awards
2012 - nomination - "Four Suns" (Best Actor)
2010 - nomination - "Největší z Čechů" (Best Actor)
Barbora SEIDLOVÁ
Character: Murriel
Almost perfect esoteric woman, attractive, with a sense of love and the universe. An ideal mark ... but is it even possible?
Barbora Seidlová (1981) was born in the South Moravian town of Břeclav and grew up in nearby Mikulov. She studied acting at the Brno Conservatory and later at the Prague DAMU. At the age of fifteen, she was cast by director Karel Smyczek in his fairytale film "Lotrando a Zubejda". In the film, Bára played the lead role of Princess Zubejda. In the same year, she also appeared in the production of "Romeo, Juliet, and Darkness", portraying Ester. She made her debut on television in the Czech TV series "Místo nahoře", where she played the character of the teenager Martina Lukešová. Later, she appeared in various roles, including Tereza in the teen comedy "Snowboarďáci", and in films such as "Bolero", "Zemský ráj to napohled", and "Havel".
Awards
Czech Lion
2020 - nomination - Havel (Best Supporting Role)
Václav NEUŽIL
Character: Daniel
The character is initially attractive, although slightly "aging." However, he is actually limited and conceited, often boasting about himself. He's selfish and cowardly, enjoying his own pleasures, which Klára only discovers later.
Václav Neužil (1979) comes from Plzeň and studied at JAMU in Brno. He performed at various theaters such as Divadlo Polárka, Národní divadlo Brno, Divadlo 7 a půl, and HaDivadlo. Since 2006, he has been a member of Dejvické divadlo in Prague. TV viewers may recognize him from series like "Strážce duší" and "Vyprávěj," as well as films like "Protektor," "Alois Nebel," "Ve stínu," "Okresní přebor," "Fotograf," "Anthropoid," "Ice Mother," "Zátopek," "Matky," "Bratři," and "Bod obnovy."
Awards
Czech Lion Awards:
- 2017: nomination for "Ice Mother" (Actor in a Supporting Role)
- 2021: Winner for "Zátopek" (Best Actor)
- 2023: nomination for "Bod obnovy" (Best Supporting Actor)
Czech Film Critics' Awards:
- 2021: winner for "Zátopek" (Best Czech Actor)
David ŠVEHLÍK
Character: Pavel
He exudes calmness and at the same time, a sense of mystery, which is very attractive to women. And Pavel knows this, so he exploits it - in fact, he sees himself as some kind of guru. The truth is that the only woman in his life is his daughter, Justýna.
David Švehlík (1972) was born in Liberec. His father is the actor Alois Švehlík. David attended an academic gymnasium in Prague. He then moved to Litoměřice, where he intended to become a priest at the Theological Seminary (he also lived in Rome for 2 years because of this). Eventually, he studied Philosophy at the Faculty of Philosophy and Theatre Directing at DAMU. His acting career began in 2005 when he played Hubert in the film "Román pro ženy" (A Novel for Women). In the same year, he also appeared in the fairy tale "Anděl páně" (Angel of the Lord). He has also appeared in the film "Pravidla lži" (Rules of Lies), the series "Život a doba soudce A. K." (Life and Times of Judge A. K.), and "Kriminálka Anděl" (Angel's Criminal). His other roles include "Úsměvy smutných mužů" (The Smiles of Sad Men), "Prvok" (The Element), "Šampón" (Shampoo), "Tečka a Karel" (Tečka and Karel), "Jako letní sníh" (Like Summer Snow), and "Dvě slova jako klíč" (Two Words Like a Key).
