GOOD DRIVER SMETANA

DOBŘÝ ŘIDIČ SMETANA

By Filip REMUNDA, Vit KLUSAK

TASKOVSKI FILMS - as SALES All rights, World

Documentary - Completed 2013

An experiment involving engaged citizen Roman Smetana – the Olomouc bus driver who drew antennae on politicians’ billboards – expanded into an action drama about courage and (Švejk-like) determination.

    • Year of production
    • 2013
    • Genres
    • Documentary
    • Countries
    • CZECH REPUBLIC
    • Languages
    • CZECH
    • Duration
    • 77 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Filip REMUNDA, Vit KLUSAK
    • Writer(s)
    • Filip REMUNDA, Vit KLUSAK
    • Producer(s)
    • Filip REMUNDA (Hypermarket Film), Vit KLUSAK (Hypermarket Film)
    • Synopsis
    • Vít Klusák and Filip Remunda’s feature-length documentary about Olomouc bus driver Roman Smetana, who took on injustice, corruption, and Czech politics’ bad taste armed with a permanent marker. On election posters, Smetana drew antennae on politicians’ heads and wrote that they were liars, thieves, and corruptionists. One of his colleagues turned him in. The judge who tried him was the wife of one of the defaced politicians. After all, he damaged private property! Smetana paid his 15,000-crown fine, but refused to do community service. There is nothing to reform, he said before the court. He got 100 days of hard time. President Klaus refused to pardon him. The filmmakers could not just film his story – they bought spray paint and headed out into the streets. A film about the conflict between law and justice. Does freedom of speech trump property damage? Does there come a point when we must go against social norms? Can a bus driver debate a prime minister? Presented by Hypermarket Film in co-production with Czech Television.