A biographical crime drama tracing the rise of a Czech entrepreneur, grounded in real-life events and extensive production efforts.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Production Genesis
Principal photography commences at Chuchle Racecourse and expands across Prague landmarks. The crew navigates diverse locations including psychiatric hospitals and abandoned prisons to capture authentic settings.
Key Events
Principal Photography Begins — Filming officially starts on November 7, 2010.
Location: Chuchle Racecourse
Prague Location Shooting — Crew captures scenes across various Prague landmarks.
Location: Prague Restaurants & Bohnice Psychiatric Hospital
Bank & Prison Filming — Production utilizes abandoned prison and bank interiors.
Location: ČSOB Building & Mladá Boleslav Prison
International Expansion
Filming shifts to Munich and Shanghai with a minimal team. The lead actor undergoes intensive language preparation to ensure cultural accuracy for the role.
Key Events
Bank & Prison Filming — Production utilizes abandoned prison and bank interiors.
Location: ČSOB Building & Mladá Boleslav Prison
International Expansion — Small crew travels abroad to shoot key sequences.
Location: Munich & Shanghai
Language Preparation — Lead actor learns basic Chinese for role authenticity.
Location: Set
Public Debut
The official trailer drops on YouTube, generating initial audience buzz. The film subsequently launches in Czech cinemas, marking its transition from production to public consumption.
Key Events
Trailer Premiere — Official trailer released to generate public interest.
Location: YouTube
Theatrical Release — Film opens nationwide on February 21, 2011.
Location: Czech Cinemas
Critical Assessment Begins — Reviewers from FFFilm and MovieZone publish initial takes.
Location: Media Outlets
Critical Reception
Film critics publish detailed assessments across major media outlets. The narrative's foundation in a real Czech entrepreneur's life becomes a central point of discussion.
Key Events
Critical Assessment Begins — Reviewers from FFFilm and MovieZone publish initial takes.
Location: Media Outlets
Historical Inspiration Revealed — Film's basis on real entrepreneur Zdeněk Kubík is highlighted.
Location: Background Context
Industry Recognition — Movie gains entries in national and international archives.
Location: Film Databases
Legacy Documentation — Production details and cast lists preserved for posterity.
Location: Archival Records
Story Breakdown
Production Phase — Details the filming timeline and logistical execution across multiple locations.
Prague Locations — Primary shooting sites including racecourses and hospitals.
International Shoots — Overseas filming in Munich and Shanghai with a compact crew.
Lead Actor — Focuses on the central performer and their preparation for the role.
Jan Budař Casting — Selection of the lead actor to portray the protagonist.
Chinese Language Training — Actor learns basic Mandarin to enhance character authenticity.
Release Strategy — Outlines the marketing rollout and theatrical distribution plan.
Trailer Premiere — Digital launch of the official trailer on YouTube.
Theatrical Launch — Wide cinema release across the Czech Republic.
Critical Reception — Summarizes the professional response from film critics and media.
Positive Reviews — Praise for visual effects and ambitious production scale.
Mixed Critiques — Debates regarding narrative depth versus technical spectacle.
Historical Basis — Explores the real-life inspiration behind the fictionalized narrative.
Zdeněk Kubík Story — Biographical foundation based on a real Czech businessman.
Entrepreneurial Themes — Exploration of ambition, risk, and business ethics in the plot.
Media Coverage — Tracks the film's presence in press, databases, and cultural archives.
Press Interviews — Director and cast discussions in local and international media.
Archival Records — Permanent listing in national and international film databases.
The movie is based on the narrative of a Czech multimillionaire who achieved success not by stripping companies, making crooked deals and crony-ism, but by blazing his own trail like Schweikesque self-made man. He realizes early on that he has nobody but himself to rely on. During the totalitarian regime of the 80s, he ambles along his oddball path and then experiences the Velvet Revolution atypically, too - in an asylum amidst nut-cases. After the Revolution, he really gets rolling. To Germany and back. To prison and back. To China and back. The intriguing and endless opportunities afforded by the Internet eventually blossom into virtual prosperity. The hero has everything and is even planning a highly unorthodox family. A happy ending is nigh, until everything goes up in smoke, of course...
