26/07/2023 - Diving into the colourful and chaotic life of the Czech literary icon, Hašek will offer an unconventional exploration of the man behind the classic The Good Soldier Švejk

Actor Štepán Kozub as Jaroslav Hašek (© No Stress Production)

Biopic films, universally revered, have recently seen a surge in popularity within the Czech Republic. This inclination is evident in the litany of acclaimed titles such as Zátopek [+see also:
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Another biographical project in its embryonic stage promises an unconventional treatment and focuses on yet another literary luminary. Besides Kafka, attention is being drawn to the illustrious Czech author and humourist Jaroslav Hašek. He is renowned for his magnum opus, albeit an incomplete one, The Good Soldier Švejk. This iconic work, which Bohdan Sláma is slated to adapt for the big screen, presents the comical yet astute story of Švejk, a hapless but wily soldier in the Austro-Hungarian army, brilliantly satirising the ludicrousness of war and bureaucracy.

Jaroslav Hašek, known for his colourful and often chaotic life, is now set to be the centrepiece of a distinctive biographical film by director and screenwriter David Laňka. His intention is to subvert the traditional biopic format, imbuing it with the satirical spirit intrinsic to Hašek's own works. “Jaroslav Hašek occupies a revered position within Czech literature, yet his riotous life remains less well understood,” Laňka remarks. “A figure of insatiable indulgence, he led a polygamous lifestyle, wrote largely to finance his alcoholism and indulged in the relentless ridiculing of anything bearing an iota of seriousness. When inebriated, he would incite his cohorts to bombard the residences of the staid and esteemed literati with pebbles. Hašek's life provides a veritable treasure trove of cinematic material. Indeed, merely half of his life experiences could fuel an unending series. He was capable of such antics that when he died at 39, the entire Czech cultural scene thought it was another one of his pranks for two weeks,” proclaims Laňka.

Laňka, who recently co-directed the tragicomedy Together with Martin Müller – a narrative pivoting around a mother caring for her intellectually challenged son and the homecoming of her daughter struggling to assimilate into the complex family dynamic – is also on the verge of completing a social drama, One Night. This poignant exploration of a woman's quest to rescue her family through engaging in live sex chats is slated for a domestic theatrical release in the spring of 2024. Yet Laňka's creative gears are already engaged with Hašek. This cinematic tribute, sculpted in the stylistic vein of Miloš Forman's Man on the Moon, aims to delve into the myriad events that punctuated Hašek’s life between 1905 and 1920. From his dual matrimonial forays, his adventures as a legionnaire and the establishment of the Party of Moderate Progress Within the Bounds of the Law, to his cabaret exploits and his legendary travels with Zdeněk Matěj Kuděj, the film promises to paint a wild portrait of the legendary Czech author.

Czech actor Štěpán Kozub, who starred in Together, has been cast to portray the titular writer. Kozub's motivation lies not only in the substantial challenge of embodying such a historical figure, but also in the prospect of a harmonious reunion with Laňka and cinematographer Václav Tlapák. He stated, “Working with both of them is an exceptionally creative and rewarding experience; their involvement is the primary reason why I have committed to this project.” Principal photography is slated to commence in 2024, with a preliminary domestic theatrical release anticipated for 2025.

Hašek is being produced by David Laňka’s own production company, No Stress Production.