Protektor

Great movie if you understand the situation in Czechoslovakia in the late 1930's.
To truly understand this movie it is nearly essential that you know something about Czechoslovakia in the years 1938 through the Second World War. In 1938, Czechoslovakia was an independent country and facing down the growing might of Nazi Germany. With strong border fortifications and a promise of assistance from the Soviet Union, it seemed likely that the Czechs would be able to hold off the Germans. Furthermore, if France were to attack in the west with any resolve, Germany may have been defeated.
However, the Munich accords that were reached in late September of 1938 changed everything in Czechoslovakia. Britain and France sacrificed Czech integrity by forcing the country to give up the Sudentenland to Germany. Britain and France also extracted a promise from Hitler that he would leave the remainder of the country alone. In order to collect some of the spoils, Poland and Hungary grabbed sections of Czech territory; their turn to be the spoils would come later. Once there...
Stylish WWII noir drama
Stylish film about a Jewish actress who must go into hiding in Nazi occupied Prague in the 30s and her husband, a radio journalist, who gains prominence as a spokesman for the occupiers. Their fortunes, prominence and notoriety reverse; she bridles at her confinement and obscurity, he thrives in the limelight. And then ...

A tense noir drama.
Stupid people doing stupid things under Nazi Occupation
Marek Najbrt's Protektor is one of the stupidest movies I have seen in a long time.

It is the story of Hana Vrbata, a self-centered Jewish movie starlet, and her husband, Emil Vrbata, a journalist who works as a radio announcer in Prague.

The Nazis occupy Czechslovakia just as shooting is wrapping up on a film Hana is starring in. On older actor who is Jewish understands how dire the situation is and leaves before the Nazis take over.

He warns Hana and gives her documents for her and her husband to escape to Switzerland.

In the first act of monumental stupidity she burns them up. The second act of monumental stupidity occurs when someone, presemubly the older Jewish actor, sends documents to allow Hana and Emil to flee the country, and Emil burns them up.

It all goes downhill from there moving from stupidity to stupidity.

The film has won awards and has been praised for its stylishness etc.

What bunk. If you...
Click to Editorial Reviews