Protektor (2011)

63% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(441 ratings)

1938, Prague. Emil, a radio reporter, is married to the beautiful Hana, an actress whose new film has catapulted her into fame. As the Nazis come to power, however, Hana's Jewish heritage precipitates her fall from stardom to the bottom of the social ladder. In order to protect her, Emil compromises… More 1938, Prague. Emil, a radio reporter, is married to the beautiful Hana, an actress whose new film has catapulted her into fame. As the Nazis come to power, however, Hana's Jewish heritage precipitates her fall from stardom to the bottom of the social ladder. In order to protect her, Emil compromises himself collaborating with the new Nazi-controlled state radio station. But as Emil starts enjoying the attention and respect that had previously evaded him, his fidelity and loyalty towards his wife begin to falter. The assassination of the Third Reich Deputy Protector and a chance encounter on a bicycle bring their lingering marriage to a crisis, possibly sealing Hana's fate. -- (C) Film Movement

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Marek Najbrt
Written By: Robert Michael Geisler, Benjamin Tucek
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Aug 5, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Jan 9, 2012
Studio: Film Movement

Critic Reviews

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
Though it remains a little too enigmatic, Marek Najbrt's Holocaust drama is atmospheric enough to keep us edgy on its heroine's behalf.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Dipping in and out of luminous black and white, "Protektor" has a distancing glamour that prevents the story from digging in.
Michelle Orange, Village Voice
Najbrt gets the look and feel of noir fatalism down, but storytelling that alternates between roughshod and lethargic means the film doesn't hold together as much more than pretty fragments.
Vadim Rizov, Boxoffice Magazine
Ethically thorny and stylistically accomplished.
Louis Proyect, rec.arts.movies.reviews
At last, a movie about the holocaust about ordinary human beings confronted with difficult choices. A superb script, terrific acting, and political relevance make this one of the more important movies of the year.
David Fear, Time Out New York
Protektor is simply another in a long line of diluted stories about life during wartime, one whose diminished returns only further trivialize a legacy of real-life horror.
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
The movie is nothing if not tonally sellable, even if the digital sheen often seems at odds with the domesticity of the central story.
Harvey S. Karten, Compuserve
A reasonably involving, noirish look at a Czech couple during the German occupation of their country.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Cast

            Jana Plodková as Hana

            Marek Daniel as Emil

            Klara Melisova as Vera

            Tomás Mechácek as Petr

            Martin Mysicka as Franta

            Richard Stanke as Tomek

            Sandra Nováková as Krista

            Jiri Ornest as Fantl

            Jan Budar as Kolega

            Simon Schwarz as KÃ¶ppe

            Stepan Rusin as Svitacek

            Pavel Kryl as Zdenek

            Adam Kubista as Jenda

            Tomas Zatecka as Jindra

            Josef Polasek as Producer

            Cyril Drozda as Dr. Kouba PhD

            Leos Noha as Worker

            Eduard Jenicky as Czech Army Officer

            Philipp Schenker as Non-Commissioned Officer

            Roman Slovak as Policeman

            Roman Vejdovec as Gestapo Officer

            Thomas Zielinsky as Gestapo Officer

            David Maj as Interrogation Thug

            Jan Jankovsky as Interrogation Thug

            Ondrej Matejka as Reinhard Heydrich

            Petra Nesvacilova as Groupie

            Dana Markova as Groupie

            Lida Hroudova as Secretary

            Mikulas Lubomirsky as Waiter

            Robert Michael Geisler as Radio Station Co-Worker

            Robert Soukup as Radio Station Co-Worker

            Katerina Sorejsova as Radio Station Co-Worker

            Kamil Svejda as Radio Station Co-Worker

            Ivo Machalik as Radio Station Co-Worker

            Michal Dalecky as Film Crew

            Jan Lepsik as film crew

            Thomas Bambusek as film crew

            Peter Cholt as Film Crew

            Vitek Brezka as Film Crew

            Stepanka Ludvikova as Wedding Party

            Marie Ludvíková as Wedding Party Member

            Lenka Zogatova as Wedding Party

            Stepanka Ludikova as Wedding Party

            Marie Cicha as Wedding Party

            Radek Vasin as Wedding Party

            Martin Mican as Rower

            Martin Hladik as Rower

            Ludek Pokorny as Rower

            Daniel Chalupa as Rower

            Viktor Janc as Dancer

            Jana Jancova as Dancer

            Miroslav Pluhacek as Dancer

            Hana Prokesova as Dancer

            Jan Ptacnik as Dancer

            Iveta Ptacinkova as Dancer

            Jiri Rohacek as Dancer

            Blanka Rohackova as Dancer

            Jaroslav Kantor as Wedding Musician

            Ladislav Sindler as Wedding Musician

            Jan Janda as Wedding Musician

            Zdenek Pazourek as Wedding Musician

            Jiri Toufar as Wedding Musician

            Marek Nemic as Soldier

            Jiri Hajdyla as Soldier

            Bohous Macecek as Soldier

            Vaclav Neuzil as Dead Man

            Zaneta Filipkova as Cloakroom Attendant

            Edita Zakravska as Usher

            Barbora Halamova as Woman With Gestapo

            Jiri Jelinek as Jew at The Cemetery

            Kamila Kalousova as Jew At The Cemetery

            Jindrich Skopec as Jew At The Cemetery

            Ida Sovova as Exhibition Visitor

            Nikol Kouklova as Exhibition Visitor

            Karolina Machova as Exhibition Visitor

            Cenek Kolias as Party Guest

            Michaela Huffsteter as Party Guest

            Michal Krupik as Party Guest

            Anna Medkova as Party Guest

            Pavel Vitek as Party Guest

            Lucie Redlova as Neighbor

            Richard Nemec as Neighbor

            Tommy Karas as Jew At The Transport

            David Czesany as Jew At The Transport

            Marta Vítü as Jew At The Transport

            Jan Rehak as Jew At The Transport

            Veronika Rastakova as Jew At The Transport

            Tomas Pospisil as Jew At The Transport

            Vojtech Novak as Jew At The Transport

            Krsytof Lubomirsky as Jew At The Transport

            Tadeas Lubomirsky as Jew At The Transport

            Adam Schiller as Jew At The Transport

            Natalie Denkrova as Jew At The Transport

            Stepan Moska as Jew At The Transport

            Iva Krumpholzova as Jew At The Transport

            Amalie Kovarova as Jew At The Transport

            Marie Pilatova as Jew At The Transport

            Tereza Stanislavova as Jew At The Transport

            Jakub Dolezal as Jew At The Transport

            Veronika Samcova as Jew At The Transport

            Marek Sulista as Jew At The Transport

            Katerina Samcova as Jew At The Transport

            Matej Bartak as Jew At The Transport

            Michaela Berkovicova as Jew At The Transport

            Daniel Sidon as Jew At The Transport

            Vojtech Zak as Jew At The Transport

            Matthias Brandt
            
See full cast

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