Heda Margolius Kovály – Rudolf Margolius
Films & Documentaries
All images : copyright 2024 Margolius Family Archive
All images : copyright 2024 Margolius Family Archive
David Hertl and Zdeněk Doskočil discussion "The Youngest Hanged in the Trial with the Slánský Group was Rudolf Margolius. But Why Him, is a Mystery to Historians." ("Nejmladším oběšeným v procesu se skupinou Slánského byl Rudolf Margolius. Proč zrovna on, je ale pro historiky záhadou.") in Czech on Czech Radio Plus, 1 December, 2022.
*****
*****
Le Procès - Prague 1952, (2021) 1hr 10min documentary film by Ruth Zylberman for ARTE France & Pernel Media had the world premiere at the FIPADOC International Documentary Festival, Biarritz, France on January 18, 2022. The new documentary made from the Slánský trial film and audio records found by chance in 2018 in a warehouse in the suburb of Prague served as a starting point for this documentary film. The director tells the story of the trial through the descendants of three of the condemned: the daughter and grandson of Rudolf Slánský, the son and granddaughter of Rudolf Margolius, both executed after the trial, and the three children of Artur London, who was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Radio Prague International 30 October, 2021.
Private show at Louxor Cinema, Paris on 15 March, 2022.
From the left: Michel London, Ruth Zylberman, Michelle Ray-Gavras, Françoise London, Costa-Gavras, I M.
Pre-premiere show at Kino 35, Institut Français, Prague on 26 September, 2022.
Discussion after the show with Ruth Zylberman, Marta Slánská, Michél London and I M.
British premiere will be at the Czech Embassy, London, 11 May, 2023 at 19.00.
Discussion after the show will be with Ruth Zylberman and Ivan Margolius.
“The great merit of Ruth Zylberman is to have been able to integrate the images into a process giving them their full place, putting them in the foreground, in relation to the before and after of the trial itself … The interviews conducted by the filmmaker with the children [of the accused] have a great cinematographic and historical value … A great history film.” Dicodoc.blog 2022
Premiere on ARTE.tv channel on 6 December, 2022 at 22.55 CET.
*****
Radio Prague International 30 October, 2021.
Private show at Louxor Cinema, Paris on 15 March, 2022.
From the left: Michel London, Ruth Zylberman, Michelle Ray-Gavras, Françoise London, Costa-Gavras, I M.
Pre-premiere show at Kino 35, Institut Français, Prague on 26 September, 2022.
Discussion after the show with Ruth Zylberman, Marta Slánská, Michél London and I M.
British premiere will be at the Czech Embassy, London, 11 May, 2023 at 19.00.
Discussion after the show will be with Ruth Zylberman and Ivan Margolius.
“The great merit of Ruth Zylberman is to have been able to integrate the images into a process giving them their full place, putting them in the foreground, in relation to the before and after of the trial itself … The interviews conducted by the filmmaker with the children [of the accused] have a great cinematographic and historical value … A great history film.” Dicodoc.blog 2022
Premiere on ARTE.tv channel on 6 December, 2022 at 22.55 CET.
*****
Hitler, Stalin a já (Hitler, Stalin and I / Hitler, Staline et moi). Documentary film in Czech (English or French subtitles), Directed and screenplay by Helena Třeštíková, sound by Kamil Příhoda, Jan Valouch, photography by Vlastimil Hamerník, edited by Zdeněk Patočka, dramatization by Zita Drdová, production by Ivana Slonková, made by Czech Television, Prague, Czech Republic 2001, Running time: 56 minutes. Copyright: Česká televize, Praha.
Published as a book by Mladá fronta in Prague in May 2015. English edition published by DoppelHouse Press in February 2018.
Shown at Japan Festival 2002, the 37th Olomouc International Documentary Film Festival 2002, the 26th Montreal World Film Festival 2002 and at the 16th Festival of Czech Films FINALE, Plzeň 2003.
* Festival Award Special Commendation (Adult Education Category) Japan Film Festival Prize 2002.
* ELSA award for the best Czech TV documentary film, Czech Film and Television Academy, 2002.
* Gold Kingfisher award for the best documentary film over 30 minutes long, Festival of Czech Films, FINALE, Plzeň 2003.
Critics rating: *** / 5
“Despite all the suffering, Heda, with her compelling story, comes over composed and, at the same time, makes us smile or brings us close to tears. Above all, paradoxically, she spurs us to optimism." Slovak Film Institute
"Hitler, Stalin and I is a remarkable story of life-long survival and optimism in the face of violence and despair." Variety.com 14 April, 2003
Hitler, Stalin and I film viewers comments:
“This woman’s life story totally shocked me and at the same time it is beyond imagination to realize what has happened in the past.”
“A very engaging document about a woman who experienced at first hand Fascist and Communist repressions, concentration camps and 1950s political show trials. A testimony of a strong personality. Despite of all her awful life experiences Heda Margolius Kovály remained self-confident and composed human being.”
“It is unbelievable what has happened throughout the past and mainly what a single person could have managed to live through.”
“A very cruel life story told by a woman who had survived it. Heda Margolius Kovály went through the worst periods of two totalitarian regimes and despite that preserved her composure and was able to pass on her experiences.”
“Almost an unbelievable story of a woman touched by the 20th century’s cruel events.”
In this film Heda was asked what she wished for and her opinion on the difference between Nazism and Communism (See also Hitler, Stalin and I book, ISBN 978-0-9987770-0-9, pages 152-3):
'I wish for the world to come to its senses, for people to finally agree and stop hating each other. The whole of my life, I have tried not to hate, to overcome those terrible events that happened to me without hating anyone. When people stop hating their fellowmen just because they are a bit different, or richer, or poorer, or less intelligent, when they have a bit of understanding for each other and wish each other all the best, then the world will be a sensible place. However, if people want to settle their debts and find pleasure in vindictiveness and the suffering of their fellowmen, then all is lost; that will be the end. Now we have the available machinery; we could explode it all.'
'It is difficult to decide. Nazism was clearly a gangster ideology that encouraged people to the worst behaviour, plotting toward wars, calling one race superior to others and simply killing people and stealing; whereas, the Communists abused people's altruism and kindness. They allured them with talk of humanity's highest ideals, so it is difficult to say which was worst. I think Communism was worse because it lasted longer, so they could actually do more evil and harm than the Nazis ... Nevertheless, someone survived, started a new life, had children, worked, was useful to society, watched the flowers grow, walked in the woods and swam in the sea. Life just went on. Even in the worst moments I could say to myself: "Life can still be good!"'
*****
A Trial in Prague. (2000) Documentary film. Written and directed by Zuzana Justman; in English, with some subtitled from Czech and French; directors of photography: Miro Gabor and Marek Jícha; edited by David Charap; music by Peter Fish; produced by Zuzana Justman, Jiří Ježek, Zuzana Červenková and David Charap; Running time: 84 minutes. First shown at Montréal Film Festival in 2000, general release in 2001. Interviews with: Eduard Goldstücker, Lise Londonová, Heda Margoliová-Kovályová, Marian Šlingová.
Variety review, 5 September, 2000.
The New York Times review, 14 September, 2001.
*****
Other Europe: Jacques Rupnik Interview with Heda Margolius-Kovály, New York, 10 January, 1988.
*****
Published as a book by Mladá fronta in Prague in May 2015. English edition published by DoppelHouse Press in February 2018.
Shown at Japan Festival 2002, the 37th Olomouc International Documentary Film Festival 2002, the 26th Montreal World Film Festival 2002 and at the 16th Festival of Czech Films FINALE, Plzeň 2003.
* Festival Award Special Commendation (Adult Education Category) Japan Film Festival Prize 2002.
* ELSA award for the best Czech TV documentary film, Czech Film and Television Academy, 2002.
* Gold Kingfisher award for the best documentary film over 30 minutes long, Festival of Czech Films, FINALE, Plzeň 2003.
Critics rating: *** / 5
“Despite all the suffering, Heda, with her compelling story, comes over composed and, at the same time, makes us smile or brings us close to tears. Above all, paradoxically, she spurs us to optimism." Slovak Film Institute
"Hitler, Stalin and I is a remarkable story of life-long survival and optimism in the face of violence and despair." Variety.com 14 April, 2003
Hitler, Stalin and I film viewers comments:
“This woman’s life story totally shocked me and at the same time it is beyond imagination to realize what has happened in the past.”
“A very engaging document about a woman who experienced at first hand Fascist and Communist repressions, concentration camps and 1950s political show trials. A testimony of a strong personality. Despite of all her awful life experiences Heda Margolius Kovály remained self-confident and composed human being.”
“It is unbelievable what has happened throughout the past and mainly what a single person could have managed to live through.”
“A very cruel life story told by a woman who had survived it. Heda Margolius Kovály went through the worst periods of two totalitarian regimes and despite that preserved her composure and was able to pass on her experiences.”
“Almost an unbelievable story of a woman touched by the 20th century’s cruel events.”
In this film Heda was asked what she wished for and her opinion on the difference between Nazism and Communism (See also Hitler, Stalin and I book, ISBN 978-0-9987770-0-9, pages 152-3):
'I wish for the world to come to its senses, for people to finally agree and stop hating each other. The whole of my life, I have tried not to hate, to overcome those terrible events that happened to me without hating anyone. When people stop hating their fellowmen just because they are a bit different, or richer, or poorer, or less intelligent, when they have a bit of understanding for each other and wish each other all the best, then the world will be a sensible place. However, if people want to settle their debts and find pleasure in vindictiveness and the suffering of their fellowmen, then all is lost; that will be the end. Now we have the available machinery; we could explode it all.'
'It is difficult to decide. Nazism was clearly a gangster ideology that encouraged people to the worst behaviour, plotting toward wars, calling one race superior to others and simply killing people and stealing; whereas, the Communists abused people's altruism and kindness. They allured them with talk of humanity's highest ideals, so it is difficult to say which was worst. I think Communism was worse because it lasted longer, so they could actually do more evil and harm than the Nazis ... Nevertheless, someone survived, started a new life, had children, worked, was useful to society, watched the flowers grow, walked in the woods and swam in the sea. Life just went on. Even in the worst moments I could say to myself: "Life can still be good!"'
*****
A Trial in Prague. (2000) Documentary film. Written and directed by Zuzana Justman; in English, with some subtitled from Czech and French; directors of photography: Miro Gabor and Marek Jícha; edited by David Charap; music by Peter Fish; produced by Zuzana Justman, Jiří Ježek, Zuzana Červenková and David Charap; Running time: 84 minutes. First shown at Montréal Film Festival in 2000, general release in 2001. Interviews with: Eduard Goldstücker, Lise Londonová, Heda Margoliová-Kovályová, Marian Šlingová.
Variety review, 5 September, 2000.
The New York Times review, 14 September, 2001.
*****
Other Europe: Jacques Rupnik Interview with Heda Margolius-Kovály, New York, 10 January, 1988.
*****
The Brave: I Do Not Want To Remember by Alan Burgess, adapted from the book by Heda Margolius, documentary broadcast on January 2, 1975, BBC Radio 4, 45 minutes, Moira Lister in the leading role. BBC
Copyright © 2024 Ivan Margolius