The Jirí Mádl-directed movie Waves, a new take on the time before and after the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Soviet Union-led Warsaw Pact troops, is the Czech Republic’s submission for the best international feature race at the 2025 Oscars.
The film, which had its world premiere at the 58th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) where it won the audience award, was unveiled as the official Czech contender on Tuesday.
“The film revolves around the international news office at Czechoslovak Radio, a place full of talented individuals possessing broad insight, linguistic skills and above all a commitment to honest journalistic work with a focus on the truth,” whose broadcasts played a key role during the Soviet invasion and occupation of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, according to a synopsis. “An epic, dynamically shot, rewarding film, which embraces uncommon heroism in the face of an oppressive regime, the strength of fraternal ties and the eternal themes of love, betrayal, morality and hope.”
The ensemble cast is led by Vojtech Vodochodský and also includes Táňa Pauhofová, Stanislav Majer, Ondřej Stupka, Martin Hofmann, Petr Lněnička, Marika Šoposká, Tomáš Maštalír, Igor Bareš, and Vojtěch Kotek.
Jan Svěrák’s Kolya (1996) won the international Oscar. Since then, two Czech submissions, Jan Hřebejk’s Divided We Fall and Ondřej Trojan’s Želary, have made the nominations list.
‘Waves’
Courtesy of Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary
