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CHARLATAN
Szarlatan
SELLING FAST
CHARLATAN
drama, biography I 2020 I Czech Republic
Ireland, Slovakia, Poland
SUNDAY 8/11/2020 6:00pm
Original Title: Szarlatan
Duration: 118 min
Language: Czech with English subtitles
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Writer: Marek Epstein
Cast: Ivan Trojan, Juraj Loj, Josef Trojan, Jaroslava
Pokorná, Jiří Černý, Miroslav Hanuš
One of Poland's most eminent filmmakers and three time Oscar nominee, Agnieszka Holland brings to screen yet another fascinating true story of a well-known and successful Czech healer who diagnosed people using his intuition and cured them with plant-based remedies.
CHARLATAN is the newest biopic by prolific Polish director, Agnieszka Holland inspired by the true story of herbalist Jan Mikolášek, who dedicated his life to caring for the sick in spite of facing immense obstacles in his private and public life. Born at the turn of the 20th century, Mikolášek wins fame and fortune using unorthodox treatment methods to cure a wide range of diseases. Already a local institution in Czechoslovakia before World War II, the healer gains in reputation and wealth whether during the Nazi occupation or under the Communist rule. One after the other, every regime will want to use his skills and in return gives him protection. But what will be the cost of maintaining this status as the tide turns?
His remedies and prescriptions, although mostly plant-based, included lifestyle and dietary changes. He healed not only poor villagers but also many eminent personalities, including the Czechoslovakian president, Antonin Zápotocký. Mikolášek's diagnostic methods and notorious healing got the attention of the Czech Communist regime. He was finally arrested after strychnine was found in the bodies of two men he had treated.
The film premiered at Berlin International Film Festival on 27 February 2020 and is Holland’s third Berlinale premiere in only four years, following the prize-winning mystery drama SPOOR and last year’s biopic MR. JONES.
After last year’s Mr Jones, prolific Polish director Agnieszka Holland returns to the screen with another biographic film; for as outlandish as it may seem, the story of the ‘Oracle of Urine’ is very much based on real events. "Charlatan" is a fascinating portrait of Jan Mikolášek, a man who was able to diagnose medical conditions relying solely on his patients’ urine. — Josefine A., One Room With A View
"There is a bit of everything in "Charlatan" — historical tension, slight mysticism and a queer romance that binds it all together — as Mikolášek navigates a world that swings between devotion to his medicine and outright condemnation of his practices.
— Rose Dymock, Filmdaze
Fascinating period drama. A rich psychological puzzle about a compromised political survivor. — Deborah Young, Hollywood Reporter
AGNIESZKA HOLLAND
One of Poland's most eminent filmmakers, winner of most prestigious film awards, including the Golden Globe and the Silver Bear, Academy Award nominee for three of her films In Darkness, Europa Europa and Angry Harvest, as well as BAFTA and an Emmy nominee.
Agnieszka Holland started her film career assisting Andrzej Wajda as her mentor and Krzysztof Zanussi. Her first feature film was PROVINCIAL ACTORS (1978), one of the flagship pictures of the "cinema of moral disquiet" and the winner of the International Critics Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 1981, after the Polish communist government declared martial law, Holland emigrated to France. She collaborated with her friend, Krzysztof Kieślowski, on the screenplay of his trilogy, Three Colours.
Her works were produced in Poland, Germany, France, Great Britain, Czech Republic and the USA. Many of them received prestigious awards and nominations, among them: Golden Globe Award, Golden Lion Award, BAFTA, Emmy and others. Three of Agnieszka Holland’s films were nominated to the Oscar Academy Award (Best Foreign Language category): IN DARKNESS (2012), EUROPA EUROPA (1990) and ANGRY HARVEST (1985). She directed over 30 feature and TV films including: TO KILL A PRIEST, OLIVER OLIVER, THE SECRET GARDEN, TOTAL ECLIPSE, WASHINGTON SQUARE, THIRD MIRACLE.
She formatted and directed several episodes of some of the most popular TV series both in the US (such as "The Wire", "Treme", "The Killing", "House of Cards") and in Poland ("Prime Minister"), also directed drama miniseries "Burning Bush", "Rosemary’s Baby".
Agnieszka Holland is a Chairwoman of European Film Academy (EFA).
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
WINNER: Best Director Agnieszka Holland for CHARLATAN European Film Festival Palić
NOMINATED: Best Feature Film I Berlin International Film Festival 2020