The Czech foreign ministry banned a video message criticising PM Orbán? – VIDEO

Old-Timers (Staříci) is a Czech movie made in 2019 which would be presented on April 15, at the Czech film carnival organised online. Based on the plans, a short video message from the makers would be shown before the start of the movie. However, the Czech foreign ministry banned it because of its anti-Orbán content. Therefore, the directors of the Old-Timers would like to withdraw their film from the online carnival.

According to atlatszo.hu, Ondřej Provazník and Martin Dušek’s Old-Timers was widely acknowledged by the Czech film industry in 2019. The film would be presented next Thursday at the Czech Film Carnival in the Czech Centre of Budapest. Before each film, the organisers will show the short video message from the makers. However, in the case of the Old-Timers, the Czech foreign ministry banned the message

because it was critical towards the Hungarian PM, Viktor Orbán.

Since all Czech cultural institutions operate under the Czech foreign ministry, they decide what and how can be presented.

According to Átlátszó’s report, one of the directors, Ondřej Provazník, says that “our representatives should have realised that they are accountable for their deeds.” Meanwhile, his colleague writes “Ban Orbán” in English on the wall behind him.

At the end of the video, Martin Dušek turns to the camera and says “you should watch this until you can”.

The directors said that the Czech foreign ministry was investigating the case, and

they were involved in banning its presentation. 

In the video message, Provazník says that the film is about the friendship of two elderly people. It is a road movie dealing with serious issues, but it does not lack humour. Finally, Provazník adds that all politicians should think about that at the end of their lives because somebody may come to hold them responsible for every deed they committed.