Join internationally renowned director Jan Hřebejk as he presents his new film HONEYMOON (LÍBÁNKY), with a Q&A following the screening.

A picture-perfect wedding in the Czech countryside is crashed by an uninvited guest whose past secrets shed a shadow over the festivities. The mysterious outsider claims to be a friend of the groom, but the groom denies knowing him. Winning the affection of guests, the enigmatic stranger delves into the bride's inner circle and makes her question her vows: "for better or for worse." Director Jan Hřebejk partners with award-winning screenwriter Petr Jarchovský and an all star cast, including Aňa Geislerová and Stanislav Majer, on this melodrama which garnered Hřebejk the award for best director at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (2013). (DIR: Jan Hřebejk, 92 minutes, 2013, Czech with English subtitles)

Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMwSeVDu2rk (in Czech)

The screening is also a part of the Czech That Film series.

Location: The Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20015
Tickets may be purchased at the box office or online at www.theavalon.org.

Reviews:
"Hřebejk once again proves himself a master of ironic tone and a confident visual stylist. The talented ensemble cast, most of them regulars, hit all the right notes and create nuanced, recognizable characterizations, while craft contributions on the Bohemia-set production prove topnotch." ~ Alissa Simon, Variety

"A suitably uncomfortable trip into the past with a sophisticated use of time." ~ Boyd van Hoeij, Hollywood Reporter

"At once delicate and forceful, Honeymoon is an elegant exploration of morality and conscience, played out against a pastoral backdrop that betrays few hints of the provocative questions at the film's core. " ~ Dimitri Eipides, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)

Jan Hřebejk has made a name for himself amongst the top Czech and international directors. His film Divided We Fall won five Czech Lion Awards and was also nominated for an Oscar. At the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2013, he won the coveted award for the best director and was nominated for the Crystal Globe. His film Kawasaki's Rose (2009) was selected as the Czech entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. He has made an array of successful films including Cosy Dens (1999), Pupendo (2003), Up and Down (2004), Beauty in Trouble (2006), Innocence (2011), among many others. Furthermore, he has received over 20 international awards and 14 nominations for his films.

Lions of Czech Film Series:
This marks the eighth year of the Embassy of the Czech Republic's collaboration with the Avalon Theatre to present the Lions of Czech Film Series. This film series gives the Washington, DC, community an opportunity to view Czech films that are popular hits in Europe and have received numerous honors and awards at film festivals. Most of the films have received the prestigious Czech Lion Award, the Czech equivalent of an Academy Award. All of the films have limited distribution in the United States. The Lions of Czech Film Series offers an invaluable opportunity to see the best of Czech cinema in the nation's capital.

Upcoming Screenings:
Lousy Bastards (Všiváci): June 11, 8 pm
This multi-layered story follows the lives of two brothers who separate after falling in love with the same girl. One brother is an expert in neurosurgery and lives a bohemian life in the capital. The other is a veteran who served in Afghanistan and takes care of his two daughters in a small village. Although they share the same origins and social backgrounds, their lifestyles are completely different. However, they do have one thing in common -- a longing for love. The debuting director and writer Roman Kašparovský entrusted the main roles to Czech leading actors Ondřej Vetchý and Jiří Langmajer. The film was made under the auspices of Czech Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra and the military scenes were shot at the Czech military base in Afghanistan. (DIR: Roman Kašparovský, 100 minutes, 2014, Czech with English subtitles)