Section: MIDNIGHT MADNESS

SMRŠT

WHIRLWIND

Peter Bebjak
SK/CZ, 2024, 121 Min

 Forensic psychologist Martin and his wife Pawla seek recuperation in a secluded spa hotel in the High Tatras. And then Martin receives a box containing documents related to a mysterious unresolved case that he can't stop thinking about. Genre master Peter Bebják creates in this, his latest work, scenes of horror reminiscent of THE SHINING.

#feature #thriller #landscape

Performance

2024-11-05 | 21:30
Kammerbühne

 Instead of devoting himself to his seriously ill wife Pawla and trying to save their marriage, one which has been on the rocks for a long time now, forensic psychologist Martin Lang immerses himself in an unsolved case that resulted in four deaths. The main suspect swears his innocence and claims it was all an accident induced by the Halny foehn wind, which robs people of their will and drives them to their death. Martin becomes increasingly obsessed with the case, which may have something to do with a terrible event in the life of his own family. As he evaluates more and more tape recordings, file notes and crime scene photos, things become increasingly uncomfortable in the hotel. Gasping for breath, an elderly guest would appear to be on the verge of death, terrifying noises emerge from an empty room every night - and finally a storm threatens the hotel and its last remaining guests.

For the main roles in his mystery thriller, director Peter Bebják was able to secure the services of star actors Aňa Geislerová and Tomáš Maštalír, who impress with their portrayal of a broken marriage. A third main role is played by the filming location itself, a hotel in the Slovakian spa town of Sliač. The worn charm of the functionalist building with its 1970s interior design provides the perfect setting for a work intended to give viewers the creeps.

Text: Christina Frankenberg

05.11.2024 | 21:30 | Kammerbühne (original version with English subtitles + simultaneous translation into German)

 

Drehbuch
Martina Cernáková
Kamera
Martin Rau
Ton
Soundsquare
Schnitt
Marek Král'ovsky
Ausstattung
Juraj Kuchárek
Musik
Juraj Dobrakov
Darsteller
Tomás Mastalir, Anna Geislerová
Produzent
Rasto Sesták, Peter Bebjak
Produktion
DNA Production
Co-Produktion
Martin Palán, BONTON FILM STUDIOS
Peter Bebjak

Peter Bebjak - Peter Bebjak (* September 1, 1970) studied acting and directing. He is currently working as a director, producer, and actor, and he also contributes to screenwriting. In 2001, he co-founded the production company DNA Production with Rasťo Šesták. He gained public attention through the documentary series "The Greatest Criminal Cases of Slovakia." Later, he established himself as a director of crime series and miniseries (including Odsúdené, Za sklom, Mesto tieňov/ Kriminálka Anděl, Specialisté, Devadesátky, Spravedlnost, Matematika zločinu, Vedľajší produkt) and gradually expanded his work to include films (including Čistič, Čiara, Trhlina, Jozef Mak, Smršť). His repertoire also grew to include fairy tales (such as Krakonošovo tajomstvo) and stories depicting significant periods of our history (such as Správa, Herec, Slovania). In addition to Slovakia, he also works in the Czech Republic.Peter Bebjak has received numerous awards, including four Czech Lion statuettes, the Best Director Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, and three Slnko v sieti awards. His film Správa was the national nominee for the Academy Awards.

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