The trial of citizen Havlíček

Václav Postránecký stars in this dramatic reconstruction of the trial of Karel Havlíček and the printer Procházka, which took place in Kutná Hora in the autumn of 1851. Karel Havlíček Borovský, then publisher of the magazine Slovan, was charged for publishing the articles 'Proč jsem občan' (Why I am a citizen) and 'Správa záležitostí obecních' (Administration of municipal affairs). The owner of the printing house, František Procházka, was also charged alongside him. The play is based on a number of authentic historical documents. Despite many interventions from various quarters, an acquittal was delivered on 12th November 1851. The trial was Havlíček's last opportunity to publicly defend his views. A month later, he was arrested and interned in Brixen, Tyrol. Cast and characters: Karel Havlíček, the accused, journalist, editor and publisher of Slovan (Václav Postránecký), František Procházka, owner of the printing house (Jan Teplý), Dr Josef Frič, defence lawyer from Prague, father of the poet J. V. Frič (Petr Pelzer), František Votava, president of the Imperial and Royal District Court in Kutná Hora (Rudolf Hrušínský Sr.), Dr Čermák, prosecutor of the Imperial and Royal District Court in Kutná Hora (Viktor Vrabec), Maršal, court clerk (Jaroslav Kepka), Sacher-Masoch, Prague police director (Martin Růžek) and others. Directed by: Ivan Chrz. Recorded: 1989