Based on the true story of the Bambini di Praga choir and the sexual abuse case that shook the Czech Republic, “Broken Voices” goes to uncomfortable places.
“Its choirmaster was accused of sexually abusing many, many girls over the years. But then, a strange thing happened: some girls recounted terrible things, but others took his side,” says Czech director Ondřej Provazník.
“He ended up in jail, so his guilt was clear, but it led to another bizarre experience. I was still studying at FAMU at the time, and one night I went to a bar. There was a group of young women sitting right next to me, and suddenly they started to sing – beautifully. They were singing over the phone, to their choirmaster. Even though he was accused of horrific crimes! This whole situation kept coming back to me – also when the #MeToo movement finally broke out.”
Czech Republic might have been slow to the worldwide revolution, but things are changing, he notes. Also thanks to two other high-profile cases: former law-maker Dominik Feri and psychiatrist Jan Cimický.
“These were huge scandals, and, step by step, Czech society started to talk more about these issues. But yes – we are still quite conservative. Quite often – and especially in the case of Bambini di Praga – people would say to me: ‘These girls were guilty as well.’ You know, all the usual things: ‘Why did they wait so long?’ One of my aims was to start this story even before the actual trauma begins – also to explain the complexities of this experience.”
In the film, 13-year-old Karolína dreams of joining the prestigious choir – just like her older sister. She needs to catch the attention of the temperamental choirmaster, but he notices her rather quickly.
“I really hope that after watching the film you’ll understand how difficult it is to deal with something like that in such a fragile period of your life – let alone talk about it. So often, you just push it aside. It comes back much later, when you’re ready to deal with your past. You say: ‘This happened to me and now I know it was wrong.’”
Provazník, readying for the Karlovy Vary Film Festival premiere, has already been talking to viewers about their own experiences.
“There’s always someone coming up and sharing their story. So, so many stories. You realize how prevalent it is in our society. I just hope this can help … them, but also their families.”
The Endorfilm production, which recently debuted the trailer, is sold by Salaud Morisset. It stars Kateřina Falbrová, Juraj Loj, Maya Kintera, Zuzana Šulajová, Marek Cisovský, Ivana Wojtylová, Anna Michalcová, Anežka Novotná and Markéta Kühnová.
Although talking about sexual violence, Provazník was adamant: He never intended to show its brutality.
“I’ll be honest: We are worried that Czech audience won’t see the film because of its topic. That’s why it’s so important to tell them: It’s not violent and it’s not exploitative,” he stresses.
“This girl has a dream she wants to achieve and steps into an environment which has rules she can’t understand. She’s not aware of what’s happening there, which is very, very common. Also, it felt right to hide certain things, because that’s how they happen. People know something, but they don’t know everything. There are so many emotions here: jealousy, strong desire to succeed. When you add something toxic to it, it creates all sorts of pathologies.”
Provazník isn’t showing the trial or its aftermath, focusing on “how these things start.” Looking for answers, he turned to Vanessa Springora’s memoir “Consent” [describing abuse she experienced from author Gabriel Matzneff, which started when she was 14], “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich” and “Leaving Neverland,” about Michael Jackson.
“There was one moment in the latter that I could connect to. There’s a man talking about Jackson and what he describes… It makes you want to vomit. But you can see he still loves him somehow. It can be love and hate at the same time.”
Later, when interviewing some of the former choirists, he experienced it again.
“Some of them said: ‘He tried to seduce me and didn’t succeed, but I still liked him.’ They claimed these were the best years of their lives! They didn’t want to ruin their memories with all this darkness,” he adds.
“There are several trials happening in Czech Republic right now. I don’t make ‘activist’ films, but I do think that art can change things – even a little. Again, that’s why the film isn’t explicit – teenagers can see it, preferably with their parents. They can talk about what they saw.”
And spot the very first moments when things don’t feel right.
“Trust someone, trust your parents – this is the only way. And, as an adult, be vigilant and tell your kids: ‘If anything happens to you, please tell someone.’”
“Broken Voices”
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