Citizen Havel (2008) (review)

The direct cinema doc Citizen Havel covers the decade long rein of the Czech Republic's first president, Václav Havel. The film attempts to show how Havel creates a job and builds a country but too often uses charade to keep interest. Audience boredom prevails as the film sits entrenched in Czech-only issues and deep politics. The film's breadth requires oft-unfinished short story lines; the film also drags along the unnecessary story of another politician to potentially influence current Czech politics. The film has fascinating construction but ultimately fails to construct a cohesive story with wide appeal.

Václav Havel is a famed Czechoslovak playwright turned dissident who was imprisoned for five years and led the successful anti-communist revolution, but you wouldn't know that by watching this film. The film commences with a stocky middle-aged Havel diverging from conversation of his future presidency to an anecdote of accidentally eating dog food. As he greets crowds, the jovial president hears "Long live Havel" and "We live only for you." With only the filmic knowledge, and not knowing Havel's policies or previous actions, these loving statements seem unsubstantiated and misplaced.

At best, Citizen Havel shows fleeting moments of Havel's greatness. He is an idealist who refuses to fib even though it seems politically wise: "I am the president of truth, not the president of lies." One questions whether the camera's presence influenced Havel's actions but just as camera cover was consistent, so were Havel's actions rendering speculation historically unimportant.

Historically, Havel's greatest presidential success killed the Warsaw Pact and brought his country into NATO. The film abashedly covers these endeavors. Havel remarks that he will run for a second term to pursue these two goals, yet the scene of Havel actually signing the NATO treaty has no mention of that act's importance. Rather the scene uses the setting to show Havel's disdain for American food - Havel's greatest action takes a backseat to his humorous taste buds. The portrayal of Havel solely as goofball is a disservice to the man and the people he led, even if he was a goofball. The hyper film mocks the man instead of praising the hero. A combination of both would have been fitting, but this mockery without praise when praise is deserved is sheer manipulation.

The Czech Republic is small. With 10.2 million people, it has roughly the same population as Michigan. The film has international aspirations, as signified both by its Berlinale screening and by statements from director Miroslav Janek. But, much of the film is heavily entrenched in "Czech-only" issues. Czech journalist Terza Brdečková watched the film's audience in Berlin and said she "could feel from one moment to another that there was a sort of – not boredom – but something like misunderstanding amongst this foreign audience." Although Citizen Havel is the most successful Czech documentary ever, due to the country's size, the film's greatest audience will be foreigners. Foreigners will be lost in the politics and situations facing the Czech Republic as many as sixteen years ago. If Germans at Berlinale were lost (Germany borders the Czech Republic and invaded it during WWII), then what hope do Americans, Brits, and the French have?

The problem with the film is that it is too "Czech" for international audiences and not "Czech" enough for the Czechs. A six hour miniseries using the film's cut footage will play in the Czech Republic. That expanded space, and not a movie with international hopes, should be the home for Czech issues. A misunderstood film has little benefit to its audience. Take, for example, the film's funniest moment (as measured by Czech audiences' reactions during three screenings). As a visit from then President Clinton is being planned, Havel says that he is proud he did not invite his nemesis, Prime Minister Václav Klaus, to a Jazz event. "I consider it a great achievement - I overcame...