Insight This is the film the American critics are saying has all the essential ingredients that were missing from the blockbuster "Pearl Harbor". Dark Blue World is the latest production by the team who brought us KOLYA, the academy award winning Foreign Language film that won Oscar back in 1996. The wait has been well worth it. Dark Blue World is a most enjoyable experience. It is a crafted film. Directed by Jan Sverák and written by his father Zdenek Sverák Dark Blue World, in English and Czech language is a magical piece of cinema. Shot on location in the Czech Republic and South Africa. There is also a lot of authenticity. Take for example the Spitfire fighters flown during WW2. With a limited budget it was important to get things right for director Jan Sverak. "Each time a plane was to land, an inner struggle would take hold of me, the little boy in me wanted to watch the amazing machine fly a little longer and the adult producer worried about the extra $US650 for another round," he explained. No wonder I thought when you consider the added cost of $US7,500 for every hour those truly remarkable planes were in the air! Another difficulty was filming the scenes involving Franta [Ondrej Vetchy] who has to ditch in the sea. Filming took place in rough seas off the coast of Cape Town. "There was a huge swell, slowly rising and falling, and on top of this were waves of over two metres. We were all seasick. It was only after a while, when Ondrej's costume got soaked through and he began to drown, we realized he had forgotten to inflate his life jacket," Jan said. But that was not the end of that story. "Later, he added, I saw a TV documentary about the infamous Great White sharks who regularly came to snack on seals at the same spot where we'd been shooting with Ondrej!" The Stars

Ondrej Vetchý [Franta Sláma] Winner of the Czech Lion Best Actor Award three years in arow from 1995 to 1997, Ondrej Vetchý is a much admired actor in the Czech Republich. Now starring in "Dark Blue World", the charasmatic, workman like craftsman will gain many new cinema fans around the world. Those who saw KOLYA will remember him as the Gravedigger. Vetchý graduated from the state Conseratoire in Prague in 1984. Earlier in his career he was often cast as a thief or hardened inmate and other characters on the outer limits of society. His big break came in the film "A House For Two" which saw his role receive critical acclaim while he was honoured with a nomination in the European Felix Awards for best actor. Vetchý has been seen recently in All My Loved Ones and Which Side Eden, both films were released in 1999.

Tara Fitzgerald [Susan] The beautiful Tara plays the women in the eternal triangle. Two men one woman. She has appeared in a number of films, twice co-starring with Hugh Grant. Aussie fans will remember he from the film Sirens in 1994. Her other credits include Brassed Off in 1996 and Rancid Aluminium with Joseph Fiennes in 2000. Tara took the role in Dark Blue World because she had seen Kolya "and I wanted to work with Jan Sverak." Tara believes there are universal themes in the film. "The triangle of two men and one woman is timeless. Another theme is the war torn situation when, in moments of extremis, people do things they never expect to do and surprise themselves. This really comes across in the script and it's beautiful." "I thought Dark Blue World was a beautiful script and that's not common."

Krystof Hádek [Karel Vojtísek] Born in Prague in 1983 Hádek is currently in the third year of studies at the State Conservaroire in Prague. Here his course entails studies in music and drama. The youngest of three children Hádek's mother Jana is a documentary film maker and his oldest brother Matthew is an actor in the Vinohrady Theatre in Prague. Dark Blue World is his film debut and one that should turn heads in the movie industry.

The Story WW2 and the Nazi's are sweeping across Europe. When the German invaders reach Czechoslovakia there is no resistance. But some do not want to serve their new arrogant masters. Frantisek Sláma and Karel Vojtisek are pilots in the czech air force. Together they escape to join many other international pilots who have made their way to England, fighting the invaders in the skies over Britian and Europe. It's a long process for the keen pilots who first must master their new surrounds, a new language and training in Spitfire aircraft. Three months later their keenness is rewarded when Wing-Commander Bentley sends them on their first mission. Later on another mission Karel crashes in a field. He survives and makes his way to a nearby cottage where he is taken in by the beautiful Susan. She tends to his wounds and puts him to bed. The inevitible happens and Susan makes love to the virgin pilot. When Karel returns to his base he is love struck, he takes Franta to meet Susan. Franta and Susan are mutually attracted. Later Susan sends Karel a letter asking him not to see her again. While Karel is on his way to seek an explanation Susan comes to the base to tell Franta of her feelings for him. Franta takes up an affair with Susan. He is racked with guilt but filled with love, lust and desire for the beautiful english rose. When Karel discovers the affair he feels betrayed. Can the mens frienship survive their love for the same woman? Can they rely on each other in the heat of battle, both on the ground and in the air? The Verdict "Beautifully assembled, "Dark Blue World" is pure magic. Director Jan Sverák has crafted a film that is a most enjoyable experience. One that will fully satisfy those cinema-goers who will relish the opportunity to see a generously satisfying film. "Dark Blue World" is a film I can recommend without hesitation."

What The Critics Say ""Pearl Harbor" Czech-style...a more authentic mixture of romance and battle." Harvey S Karten COMPUSERVE "Pearl Harbor without the product placements, without the Hollywood bombast, and certainly without the $100-million-plus budget." Steven Rea PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER "A fun film with good acting, a great script and fine special effects." Eric Lurio GREENWICH VILLAGE GAZETTE "Visually sumptuous and hopelessly romantic..." Jeanne Aufmuth PALO ALTO WEEKLY "Dark Blue World's warm story and beautiful photography almost hits the mark, and it has a great ending." Marta Barber MIAMI HERALD "Solid writing and endearing performances steer it clear of the usual mawkish traps." Todd Anthony SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL "Works quite well as an eye-filling war epic." William Arnold SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER "A bittersweet world, and it's frankly one to which we've been before, but seldom do we see it rendered with such exquisite, if pained, craftsmanship." Jay Carr BOSTON GLOBE "An evocative, richly plotted, edge-of-the-seat war epic." Glenn Lovell SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS "A Czech Pearl Harbor, minus the attack." Lou Lumenick NEW YORK POST "The Sveráks have made a glorious, tremendously knowing film." MaryAnn Johanson FLICK FILOSOPHER "The filmmakers give us a bitter taste of both the Nazi and Red regimes and take pains to remind us that one form of totalitarianism is no less cruel than another." Bill Gallo NEW TIMES LOS ANGELES The Cast Ondrej Vetchý Krystof Hádek Tara Fitzgerald Charles Dance Oldrich Kaiser David Novotny Linda Rybová Jaromír Dulava Lukás Kantor Radim Fiala Juraj Bernáth Miroslav Táborský Hans-Jörg Assmann Thure Riefenstein Anna Massey ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Frantisek Sláma Karel Vojtisek Susan Wing-Commander Bentley Machatý Bedrich Mrtvý Hanicka Kanka Tom Tom Sysel Gregora Houf Doctor Blaschke German Officer Hesse English Teacher Directed by Jan Sverák Writen by Zdenek Sverák Run Time 112 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2002 - Sony Pictures - All Rights Reserved

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