Pánek Petr
The Delayed East
When you say the date the 17th of November 1989, the most people will recall the snapshots from Národní třída in Prague, where the policemen beat hundreds of people, that were taking part on the peaceful demonstration. The people will also recall the St. Venceslav´s square, Václav Havel, together with Karel Kryl and Marta Kubišová, singing on the balcony of the Melantirch in Prague or a million of people on Letná. Very few people would recall the situation on the places, that were strong under the influence of the communist party. In the regions, that are too far to reach from Prague and where also the dissidents had much harder life, than in the capital city. Ostrava and the whole north Moravian region and Silesia were such places. The revolution´s beginning had a very slow progress here. The documentary film „The delayed east“ is about those places.
The Delayed Exit
While Prague resonated with freedom and hope immediately following 17 November 1989, the communists in northern Moravia didn’t want to relinquish power so easily. The steel heart of the country – Ostrava was seen as a communist stronghold. This documentary is about how the Velvet Revolution gathered momentum in this area.
When you say the date the 17th of November 1989, the most people will recall the snapshots from Národní třída in Prague, where the policemen beat hundreds of people, that were taking part on the peaceful demonstration. The people will also recall the St. Venceslav´s square, Václav Havel, together with Karel Kryl and Marta Kubišová, singing on the balcony of the Melantirch in Prague or a million of people on Letná. Very few people would recall the situation on the places, that were strong under the influence of the communist party. In the regions, that are too far to reach from Prague and where also the dissidents had much harder life, than in the capital city. Ostrava and the whole north Moravian region and Silesia were such places. The revolution´s beginning had a very slow progress here. The documentary film „The delayed east“ is about those places.
The Delayed Exit
While Prague resonated with freedom and hope immediately following 17 November 1989, the communists in northern Moravia didn’t want to relinquish power so easily. The steel heart of the country – Ostrava was seen as a communist stronghold. This documentary is about how the Velvet Revolution gathered momentum in this area.