Anatomy of a Fall (dir: Justine Triet, 2023, 150 min.)

Successful writer Sandra (Sandra Hüller) lives with her husband Samuel and eleven-year-old blind son in a remote chalet in the French Alps. But one day Samuel is found dead. Was it suicide, an unfortunate accident, or is Sandra herself responsible for her husband's death, whose headstrong nature makes her the prime suspect? The public inquiry into the case reveals not only the circumstances of the death itself, but also the intimate and disturbing details of their tumultuous relationship.

We start our student cinema cycle Female RAGE with an exclusive preview of the drama, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes IFF, thanks to its cleverly constructed script, imaginative direction and excellent acting.

French with czech subtitles.

Promising Young Woman (dir: Emerald Fennell, 2020, 113 min.)

Cassandra could have been a "promising young woman". Emphasis on the word could. Unfortunately, her journey has changed after a tragic event. She dropped out of college, moved back in with her parents and works in a tiny café. But at night, Cassandra is looking for justice - she pretends to be drunk in bars, until unknown guys take her home and "nearing the climax" she takes over the role of dominance and takes shots at the men. However, with the glimpse of a brighter future in the form of a charming former classmate, who takes an interest in Cassandra, new information surfaces about the event that changed Cassandra's life.

English with czech subtitles.

The Hours (dir: Stephen Daldry, 2002, 114 min.)

The film interweaves the stories of three women, Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman), a brilliant writer struggling with her mental health, Laura Brown (Julianne Moore), a 1950s housewife yearning for more Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep), simultaneously celebrating for her dying boyfriend. Through interwoven storytelling and exceptional performances, The Hours explores the challenges women face across generations, highlighting their resilience, sacrifices and the profound impact they have on the lives of others. The film captures the struggles and triumphs of these complex characters and illuminates the universal experiences of women trying to master their roles in society.

As part of the Female Rage student cinema cycle, The Hours serves as a powerful testament to the strength, resilience and determination of women. It invites the audience to reflect on the societal pressures and expectations placed on women while celebrating their individuality and the transformative power of female relationships.

English with czech subtitles

Daisies (dir: Věra Chytilová, 1966, 73 min.)

Two mischievous women, both named Marie, decide to be bad, naughty and do every possible bad thing they can think of. With this expression alone, they decide to break some gender norms according to which a proper lady should always be well-behaved, well-groomed and tidy. Both Maries use men to pay for expensive lunches and take care of them. They destroy and enjoy the chaos they get themselves into. The film feels timeless because we can agree to find meaning in the destruction even now. Nowadays, the picture is gaining enormous attention. It is understandable why the film was very controversial upon release, since it essentially promotes rebellion. Despite the timelessness of the Daisies, in today's world the rebellion of the two Maries seems like child's play and nothing earth-shattering. However, it paves the way for other characters in Věra Chytilová’s catalogue.

Czech with english subtitles.

Crimson Peak (dir: Guillermo del Toro, 2015, 119 min)

"Ghosts are real... That much I know." These are the words of the young heroine of the film Crimson Peak (2016) by Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro. Like any director, Del Toro leaves his signature in this eerily beautiful and beautifully haunting Victorian-Gothic ballad.

Emancipated and bright aspiring novelist Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) finds herself in the tangled situation of a mysterious Gothic romance with English baronet Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). The lovestruck couple travel to England, where Edith gradually uncovers the secrets of the dark Allerdale Hall estate and finds skeletons in her (and Thomas') closet.

English with czech subtitles.

The Handmaiden (dir: Čchan-uk Pak, 2016, 144 min.)

This dynamic South Korean thriller with twists and turns from director Park Chan-Wook is set during the Japanese occupation of Korea in 1930. Here we meet Sukhui, a maid who is hired by the noblewoman Hideko, who lives on a large country estate with her lecherous husband. However, Sukhui has a secret - there is a con man in the house who has ordered Sukhui to seduce poor Hideko. But the plan loses control when passions get mixed up and the lines of truth and lies begin to blur.

Japanese & Korean with czech subtitles

Lady MacBeth (dir: William Oldroyd, 2016, 89 min.)

The peaceful English countryside of 1865 in the home of the arranged couple Alexander and Kathrine seems ordinary at first glance. Upon closer examination, we find out that this is no ordinary couple. On the wedding night, there is no physical act between the couple, and Alexander leaves for a few weeks in London. Kathrine is alone and on orders from her father-in-law she has no rights to leave the house. However, after a few lonely evenings, Kathrine breaks the rule and takes fate into her own hands - thus embarking on a journey of self-discovery of her passions and her power. She becomes “the man of the house” and no one can tame her…

English with czech subtitles.

Filthy (dir: Tereza Nvotová, 2017, 87 min.)

The film 'Filthy', directed by Tereza Nvotová, is a deep and provocative look at the tragic fate of a young student. Lena is an ordinary girl who is raped by her teacher in broad daylight in her own house. She is unable to share her pain and turns it against herself, which takes her to a psychiatric hospital. The film highlights many fundamental, unpleasant questions and situations that Lena encounters after the tragic event. Why are there so many women among us who do not talk about sexual assault? Is the reason our society that sets the conditions in which they are “responsible” for the violence or are the women, as Lena says in the film, only viewed as a "rape victim"? The film is very important to the Female Rage student cycle, especially for its important theme and strong female protagonist, and therefore part of this cycle is also a discussion with the director Tereza Nvotová herself.

Slovak with english subtitles.

Babyteeth (dir: Shannon Murphy, 2019, 113 min.)

The protagonist of the film debut of Australian director Shannon Murphy is sixteen-year-old Milla, who experiences love for the first time under very special circumstances. Despite her illness, she throws himself into her newfound passion with all the energy and does not allow herself to be limited by her health condition. She's going through her rebellious period with everything, not listening to her parents and doing things behind their backs. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2019, will leave you with conflicting feelings that will make you think about your own moral principles and where the line between good and bad lies. Everything is amplified by the specific life circumstances during which Milla experiences her adolescence.

English with czech subtitles.

The Portrait of a Lady on Fire (dir: Céline Sciamma, 2019, 121 min)

The year is 1760, and the painter Marianne is invited to an isolated island in France, where her task is to paint the wedding portrait of the bride Héloise. This young woman, who comes from a rich family, refuses to be painted for this portrait in protest of this arranged marriage. Marianne is thus forced to change her role and becomes Héloise's companion, painting her only from memory. However, as Héloise's life of freedom dwindles, their relationship changes and their passions flare.

French with czech subtitles.