Citizen Havel

The film, Citizen Havel, shows with humor and empathy a timeless story of the politician whose fame has crossed the Czech borders a long time ago. The audience can note the ups and downs of the ex-president, sad moments of his life such as a death of his first wife Olga, critical health situation but also times of a big popularity, happiness and joy. Some might be interested to see his speeches or ‘jackets rehearsals’ the others will appreciate more his sense of humor or follow his intellectual processes. The documentary is not trying to be a sort of glorification of Havel, on the other hand, this is a president from flesh and blood who is in the extraordinary epoch of his life demonstrated in very unusual situations.

Director Petr Koutecký started to register the film in 1992, shortly before Havel became the first president of the independent Czech Republic and the film finishes on the last day of his office - 2.2.2003. Koutecký and his camera were close to Havel for the whole two presidential periods, during trips, visits, meetings etc. Thanks to their friendship, the director managed to register also the private moments of the famous politician, something that nobody else would have a chance to do: ‘We totally forgot to realize that somebody is registering us.’ remembers Vladimír Hanzel, longtime Havel’s secretary. ‘Probably no other politician ever let the film-makers so close,’ adds Hanzel.

After the tragical death of Koutovský the film was finished by his colleague Míra Janek and his wife in 2006 which had to undergo a difficult task to cut from seventy hours of the film material the most interesting moments and put them in one full-length picture that will have a premiere in January 2008 in the Czech cinemas. The international one is planned within the film festival Berlinale. Citizen Havel is not only a portrait of the world-known politician but also sometimes a tragicomic testimony of the first ten years of the Czech freedom.