The Painted Bird
a VÁCLAV MARHOUL picture
Synopsis
Based on the acclaimed Jerzy Kosinski novel, THE PAINTED BIRD is a meticulous 35mm black and white evocation of wild, primitive Eastern Europe at the bloody close of World War II.
The film follows the journey of The Boy, entrusted by his persecuted parents to an elderly foster mother. The old woman soon dies and the Boy is on his own, wandering through the country-side, from village to farmhouse. As he struggles for survival, The Boy suffers through extraordinary brutality meted out by the ignorant, superstitious peasants and he witnesses the terrifying violence of the efficient, ruthless soldiers, both Russian and German. When the war ends, The Boy has been changed, forever.
Trailer
Stills
Press
About the film
" Film festivals (…) need a film like The Painted Bird
THE GUARDIAN
a film that makes a mockery of star ratings.
I can state without hesitation that this is a monumental piece of work. “
“Shooting in ravishing 35mm monochrome, apt enough for illustrating a world drawn into stark black-and-white polarities of good and (…) evil (…) “The Painted Bird” is inarguably effective and immersive, its hard, unyielding gaze backed up by the muscularity of its craft.“
VARIETY
“Ravishingly shot in black and white Cinemascope, The Painted Bird is full of quiet passages in which The Boy wanders through forests, snowscapes and water meadows, the peace and silence of nature contrasting with the horrors that we soon learn to brace for around every bucolic corner.“
SCREEN INTERNATIONAL
“Heart-wrenching (…) an emotional three-hour punch in the stomach.“
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
“The Painted Bird' is filmed in powerful and expressive black and white
EL PAIS
...to the credit of cinematographer Vladimir Smutny, one of those
who stay true to filming in 35mm film.“
"A fascinating quality of the gaze leads the viewer into
MYMOVIES.IT
a reflection on superstition and religion.“
"Gruelling but brilliant (…) a mesmerising travelogue.“
LITTLE WHITE LIES
"A masterpiece.“
CINEMATOGRAPHE.IT
"The most grueling and rewarding movies to arrive in years."
FILMTHREAT.COM
About the novel
"Written with
THE NEW YORK TIMES
deep sincerity and sensitivity".
"Nothing stands higher... A
LOS ANGELES TIMES
magnificent work of art and a
celebration of the individual will. No one who reads it will forget it.“
"Extraordinary... staggering… one of the most powerful books I have ever read.“
HARPER´S MAGAZINE
Festivals
& Awards
Toronto International Film Festival - Special Presentations
La Biennale - Venice Film Festival 2019 Official Competition - Cinema for Unicef Awards
Venice - Leonico d'Oro Award
92nd Oscars - Nomination - Shortlisted for Best Foreign Film
Czech Lion Awards - 8 Awards including Best Film
BFI London Film Festival
33rd European Film Awards - Nominated Best European Film
St Petersburg International Film Festival Message to Man
Vancouver International Film Festival
Luxembourg CinEast Film Festival
Istanbul Filmekimi
Cologne Film Festival
Warsaw International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival - Best Cinematography Award for Vladimír Smutný
Mostra de Sao Paulo
Toruń Tofifest
Denver IFF
Tokyo International Fim Festival
Thessaloniki International Film Festival
Minsk International Film Festival Listapad
Cork Film Festival
Camerimage 2019 - Fipresci Award and Best Camera Award
Kolkata International Film Festival - Best Director Award
Visegrad Cinema Days
Tallinn Black Nights
Cairo International Film Festival
Spain - CinEast
Goa International Film Festival of India
Around the World in 14 Film Festival Berlin
Night Visions International Film Festival Helsinki
Cinergia Film Festival Lodz
USA – AFI European Union Film Showcase
Warsaw Jewish Film Festival - Best Screenplay and Best Camera Awards
Human Right Film Festival Zagreb & Rijeka 2019
Hong Kong International Film Festival
SLOVENIA – Animateka IFF
Kosmorama Trondheim Film Festival
Sydney International Film Festival
FICUNAM International Film Festival Mexico
Stockfish Film Festival (Reykjavik)
Zurich Yesh Film Festival
Miami Jewish Film Festival - Critic's Prize
Belgarde International Film Festival - Best Director Award
Pune International Film Festival
Black Movie Film Festival
1st Prize - Alexandre Trauner ART/Film Festival (Szolnok - Hungary)
Lagow IFF / Lubuskie Lato Filmowe - Best Film Award
Satellite Awards - Nominated Best Foreign Film
3KinoFest / Central European Film Festival - Best Film Award
Palm Springs IFF
Goteborg IFF
Atlanta Jewish IFF
Zoom Zbliźenia Jelenia Gora IFF (Poland)
Weisbaden goEast IFF (Germany)
Filmová škola Uherské hradiště (CZ)
Sarajevo IFF
Noir FF (CZ)
IFF Lubuskie Lato Filmowe (Poland)
Liége IFF
Brussels IFF
IFF Zlín (CZ)
Helsinki IFF
Finále Plzeň (CZ)
Dresden Days of CZ and D culture Germany)
Sofia Film Fest
Moscow Czech In Festival
Świdnica FF Spectrum (Poland)
Best Foreign Film - Turkish Film Critics Association
Gershon Klein Feature Film Award - Jewish Filmfestival Berlin
Cast & Crew
| Petr Kotlár | A Boy |
|---|---|
| Udo Kier | Miller |
| Lech Dyblik | Lekh |
| Jitka Čvančarová | Ludmila |
| Stellan Skarsgård | Hans |
| Harvey Keitel | Priest |
| Julian Sands | Garbos |
| Aleksey Kravchenko | Gavrila |
| Barry Pepper | Mitka |
| SCREENWRITER, DIRECTOR & PRODUCER | Václav Marhoul |
|---|---|
| Based on the Best Selling book by | Jerzy Kosiński |
| CINEMATOGRAPHER | Vladimír Smutný |
| PRODUCTION COMPANY | Silver Screen |
| CO-PRODUCERS | Česká Televize |
| Eduard & Milada Kučera | |
| Directory Films | |
| PubRes | |
| Rozhlas a Televízia Slovenska | |
| Certicon Group | |
| innogy | |
| Richard Kaucký | |
| Alexander Kushaev | |
| PRODUCTION DESIGN | Jan Vlasák |
| EDITING | Luděk Hudec |
| SOUND | Pavel Rejholec |
| COSTUME DESIGN | Helena Rovná |
| MAKE UP & HAIR DESIGNER | Ivo Strangmüller |
| SPECIAL EFFECTS | Viktor Müller |
| LINE PRODUCERS | Kateřina Spůrová |
| Ales Týbl | |
| ASSOCIATE PRODUCER | Tatiana Detlofson |
| 1st ASSISTANT DIRECTOR | Martin Stádník |
| 2nd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR | Tomás Chlost |
| EDIT & POSTPRODUCTION | HET |
| VFX STUDIO | UPP |
| SOUND POSTPRODUCTION | Soundsquare |
| SUPPORTED BY | Czech Film Fund |
| Creative Europe – MEDIA | |
| Ministry of Culture Czech Republic | |
| Ukrainian State Film Agency | |
| Slovak Audiovisual Fund | |
| Pilsner region | |
| Southmoravian Film Fund | |
| PARTNERS & SERVICE SUPPLIERS | České dráhy, a.s. |
| Ministry of Defence Czech Republic | |
| Česká Podnikatelská Pojisťovna, a.s. | |
| General sponsors | Jan Dobrovský, Jiří Rain, Petr Žaluda, Josef Koller, Roman Bartuska |
| Sponsors | Robert Bárta, Daniela Řepová, Frantisek Jezdinský, Miroslav Jirounek, Evan Zohav Lazar, Jaroslav Pejčoch, Jan Sýkora, Blanka Turturro, Volvo Car Czech Republic, s.r.o |
| Screenplay developped with assistance of | ScripTeast |
| INTERNATIONAL SALES | Celluloid Dreams |
| Copyright © All rights reserved Silver Screen Eduard & Milada Kučera Directory Films Rozhlas a Televízia Slovenska Certicon Group innogy PubRes Richard Kaucký |
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