Events at the Library of Congress and the Avalon

October 10, 2012, 8:00 PM

The Library of Congress and the Avalon Theater present two diverse programs on October 10, as part of the festival. Please be sure to scroll down to view all events, listed in order by date.

DOCS IN SALUTE: The Immortal Balladeer of Prague
On October 10, at 12 noon, the Library of Congress will screen the film The Immortal Balladeer of Prague in the Pickford Theater. The film captures the journey of Czech-American Thomas Hasler from Baltimore, to discover the past of his famous father Karel Hašler, a legend of Czech music, theater, and cinema. A Q&A with co-director Josef Lustig and Thomas Hasler follows the screening. (DIRS: Josef Lustig and Marek Jícha, 2007, 62 min., Czech and English with subtitles)

About Docs in Salute:
The new ongoing film series focuses on interesting personalities that have been touched by themes surrounding their Jewish heritage. The series salutes not only these extraordinary people, but also pays tribute to Forman's parents, who were killed in concentration camps. Share an afternoon uncovering courageous stories, triumph in the face of adversity, and memorable moments that changed the course of history. The series is presented in collaboration with the Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation at the Library of Congress, the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Washington Jewish Film Festival and the Hebrew Language Table.

Event Details:
Location: Library of Congress, Pickford Theater
101 Independence Avenue
James Madison Building, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20950

Admission is free.
For more information, contact Gail Shirazi at gshi@loc.gov.
 

CONTEMPORARY FILM: Katka
On October 10, at 8 pm, the Avalon Theater welcomes award-winning documentary filmmaker Helena Třeštíková, who will screen her film Katka. The film follows the life of a drug addict over 14 years. Katka is an extraordinarily raw and uncensored character portrait of a troubled young woman living on the edge of human existence, desperately searching for love and salvation. A Q&A with the director follows the screening. (DIR. Helena Třeštíková, 2010, 90 min., Czech with English subtitles)

About the Film:
“You bet on someone in the beginning of the process and then you wait and see what life does with them,” said Czech director Helena Třeštíková about her long-term documentaries. Shot over a span of 14 years, Katka presents a moving portrait of a troubled young woman living on the edge of human existence, desperately searching for love and salvation. Will she find it in the rehab? Will she find it in the arms of the man she loves? Or in the first cry of her long-desired baby? Tagging along with her through the back streets and squalors of Prague, Třeštíková gets deep under the skin of a person most of us would cross the road to avoid, and shows us Katka’s profoundly human face. You might be angry with Katka, or your heart may go out to her. One thing is certain – you will never forget her. 

For more information about the film, please visit:
www.taskovskifilms.com/film/katka/

About the Director:
Helena Třeštíková studied documentary filmmaking at the Prague Film Academy, FAMU. Since 1974, she has worked as a professional filmmaker, shooting almost fifty documentary films of various lengths on themes of interpersonal relationships and social problems. In the course of time, she specialized in the longitudinal approach, following people’s life stories on long-term basis. For a period of six years, her first series of time-lapse films followed the everyday lives of several young married couples from the moment of their wedding. For her film René (2008), she was awarded by the European Film Academy (EFA) the 2008 Prix Arte for Best Documentary Film.

Lions of Czech Film Series:
The Lions of Czech Film Series offers an invaluable opportunity to see the best of Czech cinema. A mixture of films for the upcoming series reflects the diversity and some of the best cinema of Czech directors. The films delve into interwoven relationships, comedic adventures and love stories, to more serious topics of courage and strength in the wake of adversity. All of the films are in Czech with English subtitles. 

Event Details:
Location: Avalon Theater
5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20015.

Tickets may be purchased at the box office or online at www.theavalon.org.

Tickets are: $11 (adults); $9 (students); $8.25 (Seniors, 62+); $8 (Children, 12 and under); $6.75 (Avalon Members); and $5.75 (Seniors who are Avalon Members). For more information, call the box office at (202) 966-3464, or to hear general information about films playing at the Avalon, call (202) 966-6000.