Champions (Mistři) 20 years old

Champions

Ice hockey is a Czech national obsession, and the country's victory over Russia in the 1969 World Championships, the year following the Soviet invasion, is a celebrated moment in its history. In Marek Najbrt's black comedy, the heroic exploits take place only on a black and white tv screen as a group of representative misfits gather and watch the game in a desolate village on the Czech border. While consisting of recognisable types, Najbrt's bleak portrait reveals a world of alcoholism, debt, racism, bigotry, and infidelity that trails behind the dreams of nationalism and bears little resemblance to the fantasies of the new consumerism. A clever and multi-levelled film, it provides a sharp antidote to the reconciliatory charms of the conventional Czech comedy.

Credits

Champions Cast

Name Character
Jan Budař He was 26, now 47 years old
Jiří Ornest He was 57, 70 years old when he died
Klára Melíšková She was 32, now 52 years old
Will Spoor He was 76, now 96 years old

Champions Crew

Name Department
Milan Býček as Set Designer. He was 41 (now 61) years old Art
Robert Geisler as Screenplay. He was 35 (24) years old when He died Writing
Marek Najbrt as Director. He was 34 (now 54) years old Directing
Marek Najbrt as Screenplay. He was 34 (now 54) years old Writing
Benjamin Tuček as Screenplay. He was 31 (now 52) years old Writing
Petr Marek as Music. He was 30 (now 50) years old Sound
Champions poster
Champions (20 years)

  • Release day: Thursday, April 01, 2004
  • Runtime: 83 minutes