Thirty years after the Velvet Revolution that brought down the communist regime in the former Czechoslovakia, the six-part HBO Europe series “The Sleepers” captures that tumultuous time with a spy drama set behind the Iron Curtain.
On the eve of its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, director Ivan Zacharias (“Wasteland”) and actor David Nykl (“Stargate”) joined Variety film critic Peter Debruge to discuss the series at the Variety Critics Corner, presented by HBO Europe.
Zacharias recalled the turbulent events of a year that swept away the decades-long reign of one-party rule in Czechoslovakia. “That was a big year. It was a huge change, when the communist system finally broke down,” he said.
It’s an era that’s rarely been documented on screen, noted Debruge, with “The Sleepers” offering a portrait of Czech society at a time when political intrigue meant nothing was entirely what it seemed.
On the eve of its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, director Ivan Zacharias (“Wasteland”) and actor David Nykl (“Stargate”) joined Variety film critic Peter Debruge to discuss the series at the Variety Critics Corner, presented by HBO Europe.
Zacharias recalled the turbulent events of a year that swept away the decades-long reign of one-party rule in Czechoslovakia. “That was a big year. It was a huge change, when the communist system finally broke down,” he said.
It’s an era that’s rarely been documented on screen, noted Debruge, with “The Sleepers” offering a portrait of Czech society at a time when political intrigue meant nothing was entirely what it seemed.
- 7/4/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Similar News
Concert Doc ‘Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero’ to Debut on HBO (Exclusive)
- 1/4/2024
- by Mesfin Fekadu
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Gen V’ Star Lizze Broadway Signs With WME
- 10/13/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Succession’, ‘Abbott Elementary’ Top 2023 Dorian TV Awards Winners List
- 6/26/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
‘The Pool,’ ‘In Vitro’ to Make Sydney Film Festival Splash
- 4/2/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
2024 Eurimages: Tarik Saleh, Hafsia Herzi, Joachim Trier, Carla Simon & Amanda Kernell Land Coin
- 3/26/2024
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Agnieszka Holland, Carla Simon and Joachim Trier projects among €7m Eurimages funding recipients
- 3/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
‘Dune: Part Two’ Gets Digital, Blu-ray Release Dates
- 4/9/2024
- by Anna Tingley
- Variety Film + TV
‘The People’s Joker’ Is a Comic-Book Fantasia More Authentic Than Just About Any Comic-Book Movie
- 4/6/2024
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Halle Bailey to Star in Universal’s Untitled Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry Musical Project
- 4/4/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
Sundance Film Festival Courting New Host City for 2027 and Beyond
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety - Film News
Tribeca Festival Reveals 2024 Feature Film Lineup Including New Movies With Lily Gladstone, Jenna Ortega and Michael Cera
- 4/17/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Netflix LGBTQ Comedy Doc ‘Outstanding,’ Featuring Rosie O’Donnell, Billy Eichner and Wanda Sykes, Unveils Trailer, Premiere Date (Exclusive)
- 4/17/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov
- Variety - Film News
Studio Ghibli to Receive Honorary Cannes Palme d’Or
- 4/17/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘For All Mankind’ Renewed for Season 5, Soviet Space Program Spinoff in the Works at Apple TV+
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Rachel Zegler, Kit Connor to Star on Broadway in ‘Romeo and Juliet’
- 4/16/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Selena Quintanilla Deserves to Be Celebrated This Year - Not Exploited
- 4/16/2024
- by Lucas Villa
- Popsugar.com
Bad Bunny's First NYC Show From His Most Wanted Tour Is Proof His Latine Fans Still Come First
- 4/12/2024
- by Johanna Ferreira
- Popsugar.com
Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts" Tour Made Me Feel Like a Teen Again
- 4/8/2024
- by Yerin Kim
- Popsugar.com
Jennifer Lopez's Viral "the Bronx" Controversy Proves Younger Latines Don't Find Her Authentic
- 4/3/2024
- by Miguel Machado
- Popsugar.com
‘Quiet on Set’ Survivors Say Docuseries Was Made Under False Pretenses: ‘How Dare You’
- 4/18/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Taylor Swift Ends ‘Tortured Poets Department’ with ‘Clara Bow’ — Who Was She?
- 4/18/2024
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
‘The Plot Thickens’ TCM Podcast Unveils ‘Decoding John Ford’ Season
- 4/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Quentin Tarantino Is No Longer Making ‘The Movie Critic’ as His 10th Film
- 4/17/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Quentin Tarantino Scraps ’The Movie Critic’; Brad Pitt Would Have Reprised Cliff Booth Role From ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’
- 4/17/2024
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
Sundance Film Festival Courting New Host City for 2027 and Beyond
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety - Film News
Tribeca Festival Reveals 2024 Feature Film Lineup Including New Movies With Lily Gladstone, Jenna Ortega and Michael Cera
- 4/17/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Netflix LGBTQ Comedy Doc ‘Outstanding,’ Featuring Rosie O’Donnell, Billy Eichner and Wanda Sykes, Unveils Trailer, Premiere Date (Exclusive)
- 4/17/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov
- Variety - Film News
Studio Ghibli to Receive Honorary Cannes Palme d’Or
- 4/17/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Box Office: Dracula’s Daughter ‘Abigail’ Tries to Take a Bite Out of ‘Civil War’ With $12 Million Debut
- 4/17/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
‘For All Mankind’ Renewed for Season 5, Soviet Space Program Spinoff in the Works at Apple TV+
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
‘Oldboy’ English-Language TV Series in the Works From Park Chan-wook, Lionsgate
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
‘Quiet on Set’ Survivors Say Docuseries Was Made Under False Pretenses: ‘How Dare You’
- 4/18/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire Television
Ryan Gosling / Chris Stapleton SNL By The Numbers – S49 E17
- 4/18/2024
- by Saturday Night Network
- LateNighter
Did ‘Abbott Elementary’ Just Make Way for a Janine & Gregory Romance in Season 3?
- 4/18/2024
- TV Insider