Let There Be Light
| Director | Marko Skop |
| Producer | Marko Skop, Jan Melis – Artileria; Negativ, Rozhlas a televizia Slovenska, Ceska televize |
| Writer | Marko Skop |
| Camera | Jan Melis, ASK |
| Editor | Frantisek Krahenbiel |
| Cast | Milan Ondrik, Frantisek Beles, Zuzana Konecna, Lubomir Paulovic, Katarína Kormanakova |
| Sound | Jan Cenek |
| Original Title | NECH JE SVETLO |
| Year | 2019 |
| Length | 93 min |
| Country | Slovakia/Czech Republic |
| Subtitles | English |
| Section | Current Relevant Cinema |
| Screening | Saturday 9 November | 19:15 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag |
A deeply moving, award-winning drama of a Slovak father who discovers that his son joined neo-Nazi group. The screening will be followed by Q&A with the director Marko Škop. Dutch Premiere
Synopsis
Milan (40) has three children and does construction work in Germany in order to provide for his family in Slovakia. While visiting home over Christmas, he realises that his eldest son Adam is a member of a paramilitary youth group. When the boy is involved in bullying and the death of a classmate, his father has to decide what to do. In this process, along with his wife, he discovers the real truth about their son, their family, themselves and the community around them. A multi-layered drama which deals with religious hypocrisy and rise of right extremism in Eastern Europe. The film had its world premiere at Karlovy Vary IFF where it won the Best Actor Award and Special Jury Mention.
Director’s statement
I am interested in the theme of an ordinary man, one out of the millions, who takes part in the mass xenophobic soul with his own tiny, ignorant particle, when he is confronted with the consequences of hatred in a hard way through events that occur in his own family.
Director’s bio
Marko Škop (b. 1974, Prešov, Slovakia). Selected filmography: Eva Nová (2015) – FIPRESCI Prize, Toronto IFF; Best Film, Best Director, Best Script, Best Actress, Best Actor – Sun in the Net, National Film Awards | Osadné (2009) – Best Documentary Award, Karlovy Vary IFF; Grierson Award Nominee, BFI London FF; Special Mention, Krakow IFF | Other Worlds (2006) – Audience Award & Special Jury Mention, Karlovy Vary IFF; Talent Dove, DOK Leipzig; Best Documentary Film ‒ Sun in the Net, National Film Awards.