The Great Night

Synopsis

A documentary study of the modern-day phenomenon of night life and sleeplessness. Using authentic portraits of characters living in the dark “half-world” of Prague non-stop bars, gambler houses and night clubs, we map the living space and community of people of the “eternal night”. The film is composed of portraits of several people, for whom such premises have become a natural living space, a safety beacon of light, where one is never truly alone. Sleeplessness, the inability to endure one’s own presence and the urge to meet with similarly afflicted individuals in these “bunkers”, also often simply the love of adventures of the night, criminal surroundings and drugs. The paradox situation of prolonging sleeplessness through the consumption of methamphetamines and other stimulants, deepening the paranoia of light and the world. Creation of a subculture with its own morals and philosophy.

Director Biography

Petr Hátle was born in 1983 in Prague. After studying History and Theory of Film and Philosophy at Charles University Prague, he became a student of the Documentary Department of FAMU Prague, one of the best European film schools (graduates include Miloš Forman or Emir Kusturica). During his studies he directed many short movies about various topics, usually related to human rights and social issues (Holocaust Tourism, Socialistic Terrorism, Transgender Transformation, etc.) screened both at Czech and European festivals. He studied and worked for one year in Istanbul. He finished his documentary The Great Night about characters living only at night and now he is working on one part of a film based on Mariusz Szczygiel’s novel Gottland.