BURNING BUSH
PART 1: 12:45 and 6:45
PART 2: 4:00 and 10:00
SINGLE ADMISSION CHARGE
Wednesday, June 11 - Tuesday, June 24
DIRECTED BY AGNIESZKA HOLLAND
There will be an intermission of approximately 30 minutes. To follow the narrative, you must see the two parts consecutively; however, a voucher for free admission to PART 2 will be available at the box office if you wish to return at another time.
Prague, January 1969: Czech student Jan Palach sets himself on fire to protest the brutal Soviet military occupation of his country following the period of political openness known as Prague Spring. Polish filmmaking great Agnieszka Holland (EUROPA EUROPA), who was herself a student in Prague during this tumultuous period, recreates the political and cultural zeitgeist in this epic tale. What could have been a standard docu-drama, in the hands of this superb filmmaker, becomes a stirring, complex recreation of the tension that swirled around these events in late ‘60s Eastern Europe, and ultimately set the stage for the defeat of Communism 20 years later. As a period thriller of Cold War intrigue, BURNING BUSH has been likened to THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
CZECH REPUBLIC • 2013 • PART 1: 160 MINS. PART 2: 80 MINS.
IN CZECH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES • KINO LORBER
Special discount for BURNING BUSH ticket holders!
Our neighbors at the excellent Czech-German restaurant Doma na rohu (7th Avenue at Morton Street) are generously offering 20% off breakfast, lunch or dinner (in-house dining only) when you present your BURNING BUSH ticket stub. Valid through July 11. Limit one per customer.
Reviews
“CRITICS’ PICK. Thoughtful, gripping, crispy acted… Does a remarkably persuasive job of capturing the nightmarish and sometimes grimly comical quality of life under totalitarianism… A tight and suspenseful ethical thriller.”
– A.O. Scott, The New York Times
“Gripping. Densely textured. Holland is the perfect director for this (film). She excels at historical drama. One of the richest works of her long and distinguished career, a multi-layered, morally complex drama full of humor, tragedy, political thoughtfulness and sharply observed details.”
– Andrew O’Hehir, Salon
“CRITICS’ PICK. BURNING BUSH trembles with hushed urgency. Unfailingly intelligent...bracing history… (with a) richness of character and willingness to flout the expectations of genre. An engrossing historical drama, low-key but in its final moments devastating.”
– Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice
“A rare accomplishment. While revolution is a topic usually besotted with alpha males marching, shouting, and cracking skulls, Holland effortlessly shows the women driving the story.”
– Jordan Hoffman, The Dissolve
“Absorbing, intelligent. One of BURNING BUSH’s strengths is its refusal to entirely demonize its villains or lionize its heroes.”
– Max Nelson, Film Comment
“A master class in modern historical drama”
– Indiewire
“Holland (is) in masterful form...long on narrative power, emotional conviction and moral responsibility.”
– Stuart Klawans, The Nation
“Expertly helmed by Agnieszka Holland. A compelling slice of history. A taut, nuanced work.”
– Alissa Simon, Variety