Czech director Tomáš Hubáček (see the interview) is currently filming his debut feature, Wirbel, a mystery-infused drama film set in the landscapes of the Central Bohemian Highlands. The feature explores the themes of home, identity and humanity’s relationship with nature. Wirbel follows Martin (David Švehlík), a burnt-out man who inherits a decaying house in the Czech countryside. While sorting through the property, he discovers ancient maps and meets the enigmatic Agnes (Judit Pecháček). As Martin traces Agnes’s path, he unearths the forgotten rituals of the displaced inhabitants and the forces that once protected the land from destruction. His journey mirrors a personal transformation, reflecting the healing of the wounded landscape.

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“For me, the atmosphere of a place is central,” Hubáček explained, reflecting on his approach. “The story is shaped by the landscape, not just set in it.” The project, which has been seven years in the making, saw Hubáček and his team scouting locations across the Central Bohemian Highlands, the Plzeň region and Slovakia. The dramatic volcanic peaks and expansive fields will serve as both backdrop and character in this film, which blends elements of drama, arthouse and genre cinema. The movie is set in the former Sudetenland in the Czech-German border region, though it serves as a universal representation of areas across Europe affected by population displacements in the 20th century.

Hubáček, who also wrote the screenplay and composed the music, has incorporated subtle supernatural elements so as to emphasise the environmental themes, much like the seismic tremors that ripple through the region. His previous experimental short Fibonacci, which screened at over 50 festivals and won 13 awards, also featured landscapes prominently. Wirbel will continue with similar visual stylisation, which blends long lenses, flattened compositions and top shots for an immersive visual experience, with Alan Coural, the cinematographer on Fibonacci, returning as the director of photography. The supporting cast includes Martin Finger, Alexej Pyško and Markéta Coufalová.

Producer Jan Macola, of Mimesis Film, who produces Petr Václav’s films, including Il Boemo [+lee también:
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Wirbel is being produced by Mimesis Film (Czech Republic) and co-produced by Slovak outfit sentimental film. The Czech Film Fund, the Slovak Audiovisual Fund and the Pilsen region have all supported the project.