Kings of Šumava

The true story of the legendary smuggler Josef Hasil, referred to by the State Security as the "King of the Šumava". A mysterious hero of the deep Šumava forests, he helped dozens of people escape Communist Czechoslovakia to the West, including mothers with children, whom he managed to smuggle through marshes all the way to Germany. Although he was once discovered and imprisoned, he soon escaped from the camp and returned as an agent of the American CIC (Counter Intelligence Corps), the predecessor of today’s CIA. How did Hasil view his smuggling mission? Why did he have to leave the girl he loved? And how does one of the people whose life he saved see him? The film is framed by an exclusive testimony of Josef Hasil himself, recorded by filmmakers in the USA shortly before his death in 2019. This action-packed and romantic story of a smuggling legend comes to life through rotoscope animation (known, for example, from the film Alois Nebel), which also highlights another heroine of the film – the unpredictable and mystical landscape of the Šumava.

Irish artist, animator and filmmaker Kris Kelly is the co-founder of Studio Blacknorth, an award-winning animation and visual effects studio. His short film Here to Fall has won numerous awards, including a BAFTA nomination in 2012.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with the authors.