The Way Out

DIRECTOR

Petr Václav

SCREENPLAY

Petr Václav

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Štěpán Kučera

EDITING

Florent Mangeot

PRODUCER

Jan Macola

Miloš Lochman

Karel Chvojka

PRODUCTION

Mimesis Film

CO-PRODUCTION

Česká televize

Cinema Defacto

MARKETING

Brainz Disruptive

The Way Out tells a story of a young Romani couple, Žaneta and David, the parents of little Janička. Their efforts to live a decent and dignified life run up against the “Romani social trap,” which is racism, the society’s prejudices, exclusion from opportunities to obtain legal work, the lack of necessary qualifications, difficult communication with officials, debts and the miserable life conditions connected with the environment, lifestyle and traditional values of their ethnicity. David wants to protect his family, even at the expense of committing a crime. But Žaneta finds inner strength to defy the unfavorable situation in a different way. Will they overcome the existential problems that start to take apart their relationship? Is it worthwhile for them to continue to Honor their own values and family traditions? And will their “way out” be only another “escape” for them, or a promise to change their lives?

The Way Out reflects the topic of marginalisation and ethnic discrimination in a non-judgemental style, handling not only the characters’ day-to-day struggles, but also their vices through the sober lens of an insider, as only a field worker who knows them personally could. – Martin Kudláč, Cineuropa

FESTIVALS

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

Finále Plzeň

Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival

Awards

Czech Lion

  • Best Film
  • Best Director
  • Best Screenplay
  • Best Cinematography
  • Best Editing
  • Best Sound
  • Best Actress

Czech Film Critics' Awards

  • Best Film
  • Best Director
  • Best Screenplay
  • Best Actress in Leading Role

Petr Václav

Petr Václav (1967, Prague) is considered one of the most talented filmmakers of Czech post-revolutionary cinema. He graduated from FAMU and made his debut in 1996 with Marian (1996), which won the Silver Leopard at the Locarno IFF. His films Parallel Worlds (2001) and The Way Out (2014) premiered in San Sebastian (New Directors Competition) and in the ACID section of Cannes, respectively. The Way Out won seven Czech Lions in 2014, including the Best Film Award, and four Czech Film Critics' Awards. The drama We Are Never Alone (2016) was screened in the Forum section at the Berlinale and at the Toronto IFF. In 2015, he made the documentary Confessions of a Disappeared about a performance of Josef Mysliveček's opera Olimpiade. This then served as the inspiration for a narrative historical film about the composer's life, which had its world premiere in competition at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.