Kawasaki's Rose (Kawasakiho ruze)

Year: 2009
Country: CZECH REPUBLIC
Run Time: 100 minutes

The Kawasaki Rose is an intricate origami flower, based on a twisting maneuver that allows the petals to seem to curl out from the center. KAWASAKI'S ROSE is a multilayered tale by Jan Hřebejk, winner of last year's CIFF Director's Spotlight Award. Renowned psychiatrist Pavel Josek is about to receive a Memory of the Nation award from the government for his service in fighting the Communists. He's a hero to his country and to his devoted wife Jana. Pavel's son-in-law Ludek, though, has loathed him from the start; he suspects there's something lurking beneath his benevolent, patriarchal demeanor. Meanwhile, Ludek is having an affair with a woman who is working with him on making a television documentary about Pavel's life. Soon the film crew learns that Pavel was actually an informant for the secret police. He even arranged to get one man expelled from the country -- Borek, an anarchic sculptor, who was Jana's lover at the time. When this news comes out, will Pavel lose his family and professional dignity? Is the truth even relevant anymore? KAWASAKI'S ROSE asks whether exposing the truth is an essential or malicious act – or maybe both? (In Czech with subtitles) – B.B.

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