Toman (film)

Toman
Film poster
Directed byOndřej Trojan
Written by
  • Zdeňka Šimandlová
  • Ondřej Trojan
Produced byOndřej Trojan
StarringJiří Macháček
CinematographyTomáš Sysel
Edited byVladimír Barák
Music byMichal Novinski
Production
companies
Distributed byFalcon[1]
Release dates
  • 2 August 2018 (2018-08-02)
(Slavonice Film Festival)[2]
4 October 2018 (Czech Republic)
Running time
145 minutes
CountriesCzech Republic
Slovakia
LanguageCzech
Budget48 million CZK[3]
Box office$636,307[4]

Toman (also known as Zdeněk Toman) is a 2018 Czech historical film by Ondřej Trojan. It focuses on Zdeněk Toman, who led Czechoslovak intelligence from 1945 to 1948.[5] It premiered at Slavonice Film Festival on 2 August 2018.[6]

Plot[edit]

The film follows the rise and fall of Zdeněk Toman, Head of Czechoslovak Intelligence from 1945 to 1948.

The film starts in April 1948 when Toman is interrogated by Inspector Putna. The film then moves to March 1945 when Toman was repatriation officer in Carpathian Ruthenia. He comes into conflict with NKVD officers who insist that nobody will be repatriated from Carpathian Ruthenia as it will become part of Soviet Union. Toman bribes NKVD officers and later meets Imrich Rosenberg. Rosenberg asks Toman to help repatriate Jews from Carpathian Ruthenia. Toman agrees to help for money. Toman later organises a meeting of the exiled Czechoslovak government in Košice. He meets Václav Nosek, who agrees to help him with his career. Nosek helps Toman to become part of Czechoslovak Intelligence, which is led by non-communist General Josef Bartík. Toman befriends a prominent Communist Rudolf Slánský, who tasks Toman to get finances for the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. Toman uses his contacts in Great Britain to get the finances and also rises in prominence. He replaces Bartík as the Head of Intelligence. He also uses his influence to help Jewish refugees and to help establish Israel. Toman's finances help Communists to win 1946 election. He meets Klement Gottwald but also becomes an enemy of the Communist Clique represented by Bedřich Reicin, which has ties in the Soviet Union. Toman's support for Israel gets him into conflict with the Soviets. Toman is removed from his position during the 1948 coup d'état. Toman is arrested while his wife commits suicide. Toman manages to escape, and with the help of Jewish representatives he previously helped, he escapes to Bavaria where he surrenders to American soldiers.[7]

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Zdeňka Šimandlová received request for screenplay about Zdeněk Toman. She worked on it for 4 years even after the request was taken back. Šimandlová approached Ondřej Trojan with the screenplay in 2010. Trojan became fascinated by the character of Zdeněk Trojn and agreed to make film according to the screenplay.[9] The screenplay was severely modified to make it more historically accurate.[10][2] Martin Šmok was invited to the production as a history advise to assure historical accuracy of the film.[11]

Trojan started to gather finances for the film. He planned to start filming in 2014 but negotiations with Czech Television took longer than expected. Trojan decided to start when the film had 70% of finances ensured.[12][10]

Filming started on 4 April 2017. It took place in Brdy and later moved to Prague.[13] Some parts were filmed at Barrandov Studios.[14] Shooting finished on 30 October 2017. Director and producer Ondřej Trojan announced that the film is expected to have difficult post-production.[1]

Release[edit]

Premiere was scheduled for 12 April 2018 but had to be moved to 4 October 2018 as a result of problematic post-production.[15] The film eventually had a limited premiere for accredited audience at Slavonice Film Festival. It was distributed for Cinema on 4 October 2018.[2][16]

Reception[edit]

The film premiered at Slavonice Film Festival. It received positive reactions and a long ovation from audience.[2] František Fuka published his review on 26 September 2018. He was writing of the film but praised final part of the film.[17] Mirka Spáčilová called Toman a talking Enciclopedia.[18] The film received overall mixed to positive reviews from critics as it holds 66% at Kinobox.cz.[19] The film was nominated for 13 Czech Lion Awards.[20]

Accolades[edit]

Date of ceremony Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
2019 Czech Lion Awards Best Film Nominated [19]
Best Director Ondřej Trojan Nominated
Best Screenplay Zdenka Simandlova, Ondřej Trojan Nominated
Best Actor in a Leading Role Jiří Macháček Nominated
Best Actress in a Leading Role Kateřina Winterová Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Kristýna Boková Nominated
Best Editing Vladimír Barák Nominated
Best Music Michal Novinski Nominated
Best Sound Jiří Klenka Nominated
Best Stage Design Tomáš Svoboda Nominated
Best Cinematography Tomáš Sysel Nominated
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Jana Bílková Nominated
Best Costume Design Katarína Štrbová Bieliková Nominated
Best Poster Tomáš Zilvar, Lukáš Francl, Barbara Trojanová, Maxmilian Denkr Won
Trilobit Award Audience Award Ondřej Trojan Won [21]
Golden Kingfisher Student Jury Award for Best Film Ondřej Trojan Won [22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Producent a režisér Trojan dokončil natáčení dalšího filmu Toman, premiéra se asi odsune" (in Czech). Aleš Borovan. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Drama Toman režiséra Trojana odměnili diváci dlouhým potleskem" (in Czech). Ceskenoviny.cz. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Režisér a producent Trojan začal točit film o komunistickém rozvědčíkovi Tomanovi" (in Czech). Aleš Borovan. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Toman (2018) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Buď zdráv, soudruhu, zdraví Macháček. Hraje nepohodlného komunistu Tomana" (in Czech). iDNES.cz. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Čtvrtý film Ondřeje Trojana je o kontroverzní osobě Zdeňka Tomana. Do kin půjde v říjnu" (in Czech). Lidovky.cz. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Toman (2018)" (in Czech). Filmový přehled. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Senátor Kubera si odskočil k filmu, hraje v něm prezidenta Beneše" (in Czech). iDNES.cz. 27 August 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  9. ^ Hromádková, Tereza (9 June 2017). "Ondřej Trojan: S filmem o Tomanovi bych se chtěl ještě jednou podívat do Hollywoodu" (in Czech). Hospodářské noviny. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Tajný příběh jednoho českého špiona" (in Czech). Deník.cz. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Zdeněk Toman, kšeftař v rudých barvách. K nejmocnějším v ČSR patřil tři roky" (in Czech). Novinky.cz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Toman: The Story of a Ruthless Communist". Filmcenter.cz. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Macháček utíká přes hranice. Odstartovalo natáčení dobové rekonstrukce o Zdeňku Tomanovi" (in Czech). Kinobox.cz. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Trojan natočil film o rozvědčíkovi Tomanovi, který sháněl peníze na puč z roku 1948" (in Czech). Aktuálně.cz. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Producent Trojan nestíhá postprodukci historického filmu Toman, premiéra se posouvá o půl roku" (in Czech). Aleš Borovan. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Představení Toman" (in Czech). Festival Slavonice. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  17. ^ "Recenze: Toman - 50%" (in Czech). Fffilm.name. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  18. ^ "RECENZE: Mluvící encyklopedie, kde je Toman jen jedna tvář na schůzi" (in Czech). iDNES.cz. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Toman" (in Czech). Kinobox.cz. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Největší favorit Českých lvů? Film o komunistickém "šmelináři"" (in Czech). Kinobox.cz. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  21. ^ "Hlavní cenu Trilobit získal dokument Čechoslováci v gulagu" (in Czech). Novinky.cz. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  22. ^ "Ledňáčka z Plzně si odváží Domestik i dokument Mimořádná zpráva". Totalfilm.cz (in Czech). 16 April 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.

External links[edit]

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