IN SILENCE

Dir. Zdeněk Jiráský (84min, Slovak Republic/Czech Republic/Germany, 2014)
Czech and Slovak with English Subtitles
Narrative
Mid-Atlantic Premiere

A vibrant, sound-rich and brilliant ode to the lives of Jewish musicians during the era of National Socialism in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Germany. In Silence is based on true stories of Alice Flachová, Karol Ebert, Edith Kraus, and Arthur Chitz. The film draws a sharp contrast between the protagonists’ carefree existence making music during the pre-war era and the subsequent upheaval brought on by the proliferation of Nazism.

Intended as a documentary, the director ultimately turned out a feature film of exceptional visual and emotional impact, examining an ostensibly exhausted cinematic theme with extraordinary originality and intensity.

Co-presented by Opera On Tap Dc Metro, All Generations, Next Dor DC, Vendetta Bocce Bar & Tavern, and 3GDC.

Zdeněk Jiráský graduated in screenwriting and script editing from FAMU in 2004, then started making documentaries. His films for Czech TV include Vanishing Prague (2008) on the transformation of the Czech metropolis, Asák (2010) about photographer Petr Helbich, and Goulash for 750 Million (2010) on election campaigns. As a screenwriter he worked on the TV series Airport.

His feature film debut Flower Buds (2011), shown in its international premiere in the East of the West competition at the Karovy Vary International Film Festival, won four Czech Lion awards, including Best Film and Best Director. He was also nominated by Czech film critics for direction, screenplay and discovery of the year. He then shot the docudrama The Jagiellon Dynasty (2012) and the short comedy Bridesmaid (2013) for Czech TV. In Silence is his second feature.

“This beautifully composed docu-musical pays tribute to Jewish musicians and performers persecuted by the Nazis during their wartime occupation of Central Europe.” -The Hollywood Reporter