Man versus Ruin (Člověk proti zkáze)

As a tribute to the actress Hana Maciuchová (1945-2021), a long-time patron and supporter of the Noir Film Festival, this year we are presenting Štěpán Skalský’s Man Against Ruin, which depicts the last years of the life of playwright and writer Karel Čapek until his death on 25 December 1938. Čapek was an outspoken critic of fascism, which led to his persecution. By the time the Gestapo came to arrest him, he was already dead. Interspersed in this biographical film are memories of his childhood, scenes from rehearsals of the anti-war play The White Disease, and conversations with his brother Josef as well as with Friday Men, including President Masaryk. Čapek’s unquestionable intellect and moral fortitude in the fight against fascism is convincingly depicted by Josef Abrhám. Hana Maciuchová portrayed Čapek’s wife, Olga Scheinpflugová, who accompanied him on his travels, inspired him and stood by his side in his most difficult times.

Veronika Zýková

Screening in Czech with Czech HoH subtitles