Sceneggiatura / Screenplay: Ondřej Provazník. Fotografia / Photography: Lukáš Milota. Montaggio / Editing: Anna Johnson Ryndová. Musica / Music: Pjoni, Aid Kid. Suono / Sound: Juraj Mravec, Petr Čechák. Scenografia / Set Designer: Irena Hradecká. Costumi / Costume Designer: Marek Cpin. Interpreti / Cast: Kateřina Falbrová, Juraj Loj, Maya Kintera, Zuzana Šulajová, Marek Cisovský, Ivana Wojtylová, Anna Michalcová, Anežka Novotná, Markéta Kühnová. Produzione / Produced by: Endorfilm, Punkchart films. Coproduzione / Co-produced by: Czech TV, Innogy, Barrandov Studio. Con il sostegno di / Supported by: Czech Audiovisual Fund, Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Eurimages, South Moravian Film Foundation, Next Generation EU. Distribuzione internazionale / World Sales: Salaud Morisset.
In early 1990s Czech Republic, 13-year-old Karolína earns a place in a world-famous girls’ choir, joining her older sister and other driven young talents. Her voice soon catches the attention of the admired and enigmatic choirmaster Machá. Being singled out feels like a triumph, until she begins to understand the unsettling price of that privilege. Inspired by the Bambini di Praga case, the film explores the fragile line where innocence collides with abusive power.
Shot in 16 mm, Broken Voices premiered at the latest Karlovy Vary IFF (where the leading actress won a Special Mention), and was then presented in more than 40 international film festivals.
“One aspect of sexual abuse cases that have long been kept silent and subsequently come to light is society’s suspicion of victims who decide to speak up. Frequently, even the victim’s close friends and relatives attack their veracity, memory and integrity and, more generally, their decision to dredge up the distant past. Few can imagine the complexity of the relationship between victim and aggressor. The traumatic nature and fragility of the former’s experience and decision to testify. The conflicting emotions they feel toward the culprit. My aim is to gradually draw the viewer closer to the victim’s ordeal in our film – in a non-schematic manner, cinematically, through all the highs and lows of such experiences. As credibly and authentically as possible.” (O. Provazník)
Ondřej Provazník
filmografia scelta / selected filmography 2007 Poustevna, das ist Paradies (A Town Called Hermitage) diretto con / directed with Martin Dušek doc.; Premi / Awards: Ji.hlava IFF – Miglior documentario ceco / Best Czech Documentary 2010 Zeny SHR (Coal in the Soul) diretto con / directed with Martin Dušek doc.; Premi / Awards: Ji.hlava IFF – Miglior documentario ceco / Best Czech Documentary 2019 Staříci (Old-Timers) diretto con / directed with Martin Dušek; Premi / Awards: Premio della critica cinematografica ceca – Miglior film, Miglior regia, Migliore attore / Czech Film Critics’ Award – Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor 2025 Sbormistr (Broken Voices); Premi / Awards: Karlovy Vary IFF – Menzione speciale per / Special Mention for Kateřina Falbrová
