BEST OF FESTS

OTEC

Michal (an award-winning performance by Milan Ondrík) is a man who has it all. His professional success is balanced with a fulfilling family life with his loving wife and their two-year-old daughter. Their daily routine unfolds at a leisurely pace, defined by morning chores, family breakfasts, and the predictable challenges of the office. But in a single, devastating instant his entire world collapses. On a sweltering day, Michal takes charge of dropping his daughter off at kindergarten before heading to work. A momentary memory lapse – a phenomenon known as “forgotten baby syndrome” – causes an unthinkable catastrophe. One fatal mistake plunges Michal’s life into a waking nightmare. Consumed by paralyzing guilt, Michal watches as his marriage disintegrates under the unbearable strain of the ordeal. As the case becomes a media sensation, he also faces a grueling legal battle and society’s harsh judgment. Based on a true story, Tereza Nvotová’s film utilizes masterful long takes – captured with precision by Polish cinematographer Adam Suzin – to viscerally draw the audience into the protagonist’s harrowing journey. Yet Nvotová suggests that this is not just a film about suffering, but also about a profound love that can only be experienced when you’ve lost everything.

• Zurich IFF – Golden Eye Award (Best Film)
• Les Arcs EFF – Best Actor (Milan Ondrík)
• Stockholm IFF – Bronze Horse