Occupation
In the sixth grade, Michal Nohejl decided to become a film director. Yet, he made his first full-length film at the age of 45. That’s not to say that his dream has only just come true. For many years, he has been an acclaimed and much sought-after maker of audio-visual short format works, commercials. For his first feature film, the director chose a very difficult and complex genre – comedy.
After the premiere, the theatre group gathers in a bar to celebrate. However, the cheerful gathering is interrupted by a drunken Soviet officer. He insists on selling a can of petrol. However, when he senses the awkwardness, the hidden hatred, the cowardice, the timidity of the people there, he begins to enjoy the situation with his intrusiveness. When he takes his pistol out of its holster, things start to get crazy. The people in the bar suddenly become “freedom fighters” against the Russian occupation.
It’s probably the director’s extensive experience in making commercials that has helped him to create very precise mise-en-scènes during the two weeks of shooting. After the film’s screening in its home country, reviews said that the author had captured something characteristic of the Czechs. This is not the case. All the nationalities that lived under the Soviet regime can relate to the film.
Mihkel Möölman
After graduating from Zlin film school, Michal Nohejl was accepted to the directing department at FAMU where he studied under Vera Chytilova. He shot a number of short student films. His graduation film "Fobie" was selected for the Panorama of Young European Film at Febiofest 2007 and later became a part of a feature-length triptych. Since 2006, he has worked as commercial director. Hea also became some of the most promising local commercial directors. He shot music videos for bands which many were awarded at both local and international festivals. "Occupation" is his debut feature film.
Award for the best film, grant of 5000€ by
