Prague, Feb 5 (CTK) – The new Czech satirical film President Blanik about a fictitious lobbyist running for president, which has been playing in Czech cinemas since February 1, was made during the campaign before the direct presidential election held in January.
The film made by Marek Najbrt follows the cult political satire series Kancelar Blanik (Blanik agency) from the Stream.cz online television channel.
Like in the sitcom, the main parts in the film are played by Marek Daniel (lobbyist Tonda Blanik), Halka Tresnakova and Michala Dalecky (his assistants). Popular figures from the Czech political scene also appear in the film, including TV moderator Jakub Zelezny, lawyer Tomas Sokol, economist Tomas Sedlacek, Pirates leader Ivan Bartos and spokesman for late president Vaclav Havel, Ladislav Spacek, as well as the presidential candidates.
The film crew was shooting at the public debates of the presidential candidates, in the newsroom of the public Czech Television (CT) and during the celebrations of the national holiday of November 17, 2017, among others.
The filmmakers made several alternative endings of the film and they chose the most fitting after the result of the runoff election, in which academic Jiri Drahos and President Milos Zeman met, was announced on January 27.
“The alternative ending was different but it was not an absolute happy ending. Even if Jiri Drahos had won, Tonda Blanik would have returned to his business,” Najbrt said.
“Political satire is very rare. It is a genre that needs to be supported and done so that we all don’t take ourselves too seriously,” CT creative producer Helena Uldrichova said about the film.
The film was produced by Negativ, CT and the Seznam.cz Internet portal. It won support from the State cinematography fund and its makers raised two million crowns through a crowdfunding campaign.
