The Czech That Film Festival hits the Avalon Theatre with Oscar-nominated director Jan Hřebejk’s The Teacher (Učitelka) and Filip Renč’s dark drama The Devil’s Mistress (Lída Baarová) about a Czech fallen actress on April 13. A special component of the festival is a reception in the Avalon’s historic main theatre, serving Czech cuisine prepared by Embassy Chef Zdenek Pecka. The menu will include beef goulash and bread, apple strudel and a glass of wine, Czech beer, or soft drink. Attendees can either book the "double feature" or "evening screening with reception" to enjoy the culinary delights on April 13.  

April 13, 5:15 pm: The Teacher (Učitelka)    

Dir. Jan Hřebejk, 2016, 102 min.
Slovak w/English subtitles           
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pkvz4rh_qI              

Set in the early 1980s in Czechoslovakia, an elementary school principal calls an urgent meeting for parents. There are allegations that a seemingly kind teacher is using her students to manipulate their parents into providing a host of perks. Will the teacher’s cozy connections with the Communist Party keep the parents silent or will they stand up against the corruption? Inspired by true events, this suspenseful drama reveals the strength of the human character. It is a universal story that could happen anytime and anywhere, as long as corruption, pettiness, and selfishness still rule the world.        

Actress Zuzana Mauréry won the Czech Lion Award for Best Actress, and the film was nominated for a Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival (2016).

April 13, 8 pm : The Devil’s Mistress (Lída Baarová)               
Dir. Filip Renč, 2016, 106 min., Czech with English subtitles
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd6lG1QsvG0

Beautiful Czech actress Lída Baarová takes Germany’s silver screen by storm and in the process steals the heart of one of the Third Reich’s most powerful men — Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda. Baarová rejects offers from Hollywood to enter into a passionate affair with one of Hitler’s closest followers, but at what price?       

Lída Baarová was a legendary Czech actress. At 17, she started taking on roles in the Czech National Theater in Prague. By 21, she was a star of Czechoslovak cinema. She landed a leading role in the film Barcarole with the Babelsberg Film Studio, Gemany’s largest film studio at that time. While playing in numerous propaganda films, she caught the eye of Hitler’s propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. He had an affair with her before Hitler ended the tryst; thereby, barring her from appearing in any films or plays in Germany. She returned to Prague but was eventually blacklisted; therefore, she moved to Italy. She was arrested by American troops in 1945 and briefly imprisoned. Her reputation never recovered.                                         

The festival is presented in collaboration with the Avalon Theatre.

TICKETS

For tickets, please visit www.theavalon.org/czechthatfilm

All films will screen with English subtitles.

Location: Avalon Theater, 5612 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015