Muž, který stál v cestě

A narrative film directed by Petr Nikolaev with the story of the heroism and defiance of František Kriegel, a man who defied the power of the Soviet empire and stood in its way. Doctor and top politician František Kriegel was one of the faces of the Prague Spring. After August 1968, he was the only Czechoslovak politician to defy Brezhnev and, despite strong pressure, refused to sign the consent to the entry of the occupiers. The relevance of the film is underlined by the fact that the filmmakers shot part of the film in the fall of 2021 in Bucha, Ukraine. "I have often thought about the act of František Kriegl, and in all of Czech history we find only one analogy: I DO NOT REVOKE Master Jan Hus in Constance in 1415." Karel Kosík, philosopher The gripping and little-known story of the personal bravery of the doctor and politician František Kriegel captures the dramatic events of August 21, 1968 and what followed. At the end of the 1960s, a general liberation from the harshest communist tyranny was taking place in our country. One of the faces of the so-called Prague Spring is the hero of the Spanish Civil War, František Kriegel. However, the promise of better times is destroyed in one night by the invasion of Russian tanks into Czechoslovakia. The hunt for the enemy begins. Kriegel, along with other political leaders, is kidnapped all the way to Moscow. In captivity, they are then subjected to strong pressure and threats and are forced to sign the Moscow Protocol, which means consent to the military occupation of the country. Everyone must sign it together. Kriegel must decide between his own safety and personal gain and a firm moral stance. He is the only one who does not succumb, despite the threat of liquidation, despite the danger of liquidation of his loved ones, he defies the Russian dictate and Brezhnev himself. He finds himself alone in the middle of the Soviet Union, from where many have never returned. . . "They will send me to Siberia or shoot me. I am counting on it." František Kriegel. The film "The Man Who Stood in the Way" was directed by Petr Nikolaev, who has not only the comedies Střidavka and Báječná léta pod psa under his belt, but also the audience-successful drama The Godfather, the powerful historical film A Piece of Heaven and, above all, the epic and essential film Lidice. Tomáš Töpfer delivers a unique and lifelike acting performance in the central role.