NEWS

The Davidson Film Club (DFC) is pleased to invite you to a screening and discussion of the Czech masterpiece, “Kolya,” winner of the Oscar and Golden Globes awards for Best Film in a Foreign Language on Saturday, September 17, at 7:00 p.m. IN THE ARMOUR STREET THEATRE!

“There’s a sense of enchantment in “Kolya,” a sense that unexpected bits of magic could explode at any time.” Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

Directed by Jan Sverák
Czech Republic (1996, 1h45)
In Czech, Russian, and Slovak w/English subtitles
7:00 pm Saturday, September 17, at the Armour Street Theatre

Discussion of the film will be led by Dr. Peter Thorsheim, Prof. of History at UNC-Charlotte and Vice President of the Davidson Film Club.

Like so many other venues in our community at this time, we warmly encourage our patrons to wear a mask but do not require it. We will have N95 or KN95-type masks available at the door for those who need one.

Walk-ins are welcome, $9 at the door, cash or check (no credit cards). Walk-ins must apply for a seat in advance at [email protected]. Walk-in seats are limited by availability.

Refreshments (red and white wine, bottled water, and snacks) will be made available by the Film Club.

Film Summary:

Franta Louka is a concert cellist in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia, a confirmed bachelor and a lady’s man. Having lost his place in the state orchestra, he must make ends meet by playing at funerals and painting tombstones. But he has run up a large debt, needs a car, and when his friend suggests a scheme for making a lot of money by marrying a Russian woman with a five-year-old son (“Kolya”) so that she can get her Czech papers, he reluctantly agrees. Trouble ahead. . .

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer 96%, Audience Score 93%!

“Kolya is one of those films that makes you feel as if you should, and could, be a better person.” Mal Vincent, The Virginian-Pilot

“Kolya has a light, dreamlike quality—as if the characters had been kissed by unseen fate and brought together to enrich each other and feel more sharply the pulse of life [. . .].” Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

“It is a work of love, beautifully photographed by Vladimir Smutny in rich deep reds and browns, with steam rising from soup and the little boy looking wistfully at the pigeons on the other side of the tower window.” Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

“Kolya is an adorable and charming light drama of a Russian child unexpectedly changing the course of the life of a “father” in question. A genius mix of light drama and humor. The enchanting story, solid performances, and profound soundtrack paramount to a genuine magical experience for the heart.” Audience Review

“A charming film with solid performances. Koyla celebrates the life and trials of a middle-aged cellist in Prague during the Soviet occupation. Louka plays the cello like an angel but seduces married women with his devilish charm. All this changes when he inherits a young boy from an arranged marriage. Beautifully filmed, Koyla ranks high as a must-see movie!” Audience Review

Our updated website at www.davidsonfilmclub.com features the whole current series (July-Nov. 2022) and film descriptions. Have you Bookmarked it?

Please be reminded that members are always free to give their seats to a friend if they cannot make it to a given screening. Just email us at [email protected] to let us know the name of the friend who will be using your seat(s).

We are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization run by volunteers that only exists to bring you fine international fiction films and engage in stimulating discussion about them.

Hope that many of you will be at the screening of this extremely touching film!
Alan

Alan Singerman
President, Davidson Film Club
[email protected]
(704) 231-6736

P.S. If you are on Facebook, please take a moment to “Like” and “Share” with your friends our announcement of this film on the Davidson Film Club page. And thanks for spreading the good word!

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