Coming-of-Age Drama ‘After Party’ Debuts Trailer Ahead of Venice Premiere, Film Republic Handles Sales (EXCLUSIVE)

Vojtěch Strakatý’s debut feature “After Party” has debuted its international trailer (below) ahead of its world premiere in the Horizons Extra section of the Venice Film Festival. Film Republic is handling world sales.

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The Czech film follows carefree 23 year-old Jindřiška, who discovers that her father owes a lot of money when debt collectors arrive to confiscate their house. In a single day, Jindřiška’s world falls apart, forcing her to choose between helping her father or saving herself before it’s too late.

Paolo Bertolin of the Venice selection committee said: “I thought this coming-of-age in one day [drama] had a very precise and convincing narrative structure, with a beautiful crescendo served by a discreet but eloquent mise-en-scène and an excellent leading performance. The final result is both fresh and thought-provoking.”

The film, which premieres on Sept. 3, stars Eliška Bašusová, Anna Tomanová and Jan Zadražil. It is produced by Marek Novák of Xova Film. The co-producers are Helena Uldrichová of Česká Televize, Jordi Niubó of i/o Post and Lukáš Moudrý of Studio Beep. The Czech distributor is Aerofilms, which will give the film a theatrical release in the fall.

In a statement, Strakatý said: “The story is inspired by events I experienced a few years ago: debts caused by my father, losing property, moving places, the collapse of family and relationships, and the total loss of all security.

“The family saga is condensed into 24 hours, encapsulating events that occur over a much larger time frame in real life. As the film unfolds seemingly in real time, Jindřiška looks both forward to what is to come and backward to what her life has been up to this point.

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“Jindřiška’s own hungover odyssey is complicated not only by the sudden loss of her secured future but also by physical exhaustion as she starts the hellish day after a night out.

“There are evil forces present in the form of her father and the loan sharks, but the film overall is not meant to give a daunting impression. The lightness of the narrative and the presence of hope are crucial to me, embodied particularly through the character of Karolína and the energy and unconditional friendship she brings.

“Thus, an existential drama is contrasted with the seemingly relaxed atmosphere of a summer day and the coming-of-age genre, mixing and balancing the dark and the more positive.

“The title ‘After Party’ goes hand in hand with this approach, as the film is framed by two parties which are usually associated with more joyful experiences. The events following each of them are pivotal for Jindřiška’s future life.”

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