Nepela
Czech Traces
2025 Slovak Republic, Czech Republic 114 min. Language: Czech, English, Italian, German, Slovak Subtitle: Czech, English
SCREENINGS
Czechoslovakia, 1972. Ondrej Nepela has reached the top. As the best figure skater in the world, he returns home with a gold medal from the Olympic Games. After his triumph, he begins considering ending his career and moving on to something new. But the Communist regime has other plans for him—after all, there is no better propaganda material than a successful athlete. The true story of the legendary figure skater was brought to the screen by debut director Gregor Valentovič, who based the script primarily on a book by Eva Bacigalová. Josef Trojan prepared for the lead role with immense dedication—undergoing rigorous skating training, ballet lessons, and learning Slovak. Some of the figure skating scenes were doubled by Olympian Adam Hagar.
DIRECTED BY Gregor Valentovič
CAST Josef Trojan, Zuzana Mauréry, Antonie Martinec Formanová, Tereza Smetanová, Adrian Jastraban, Milan Mikulčík, Billy Dunmore, Martin Toman, Sára Polyaková, František Beleš, Lucia Jašková Geišbergová, Michal Soltész, Michal Kiník, Vilém Hlavsa, Alexandra Hagarová, Matej Landl, Adam Hagara
CINEMATOGRAPHY Adam Suzin
SOUND Samuel Škubla
PRODUCERS Ivan Ostrochovský (Punkchart films), Albert Malinovský (Punkchart films), Katarína Tomková (Punkchart films), Marek Jeníček (CINETIM FILM ), Tomáš Janísek (CINETIM FILM ), Rudolf Biermann (IN Film Praha)
SCREENPLAY Gregor Valentovič
EDITING Roman Kelemen
MUSIC Mary Komasa, Antoni Komasa – Łazarkiewicz
CO-PRODUCER escadra, Shipsboy, AZYL Production
