WAVES (2025)

🎬 Waves (2025) – A Historical Thriller That Echoes Through Time

Director: Jiří Mádl
Genre: Historical Thriller / Political Drama
Languages: Czech, Slovak, with segments in Russian, French, and Italian
Runtime: 131 minutes
Countries: Czech Republic & Slovakia

🎥 Synopsis

Waves (Vlny) is a gripping historical thriller that takes viewers deep into the political and moral turbulence of 1968 Czechoslovakia. It follows Tomáš Havlík, a young radio technician who unexpectedly finds himself at the heart of the fight for truth and freedom when he joins the team at Czechoslovak Radio’s editorial division, International Life.

As the Prague Spring brings a brief taste of liberalization, Tomáš is pulled into a dangerous moral struggle. With the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion looming and the secret police monitoring their every move, Tomáš and his colleagues are forced to choose between compliance and resistance. The film powerfully portrays the cost of standing by one's principles in the face of authoritarian oppression.

🎬 Artistic Direction & Cinematic Craft

Director Jiří Mádl infuses the film with urgency and emotional depth. The cinematography by Martin Žiaran is immersive, frequently using handheld tracking shots to amplify tension within the newsroom setting. The blending of archival footage with dramatized scenes adds historical authenticity and emotional gravity, reminiscent of Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old.

The musical score, composed by Simon Goff (known for Chernobyl and Joker), adds intensity and subtle emotion, underscoring the psychological strain of the characters and the broader national crisis.

🌍 Historical & Political Context

Set during the crucial summer of 1968, Waves captures the atmosphere of hope and fear during the Prague Spring, a brief period of political reform that was crushed by a Soviet military invasion. Czechoslovak Radio became a critical battleground—one of the last voices of resistance before being silenced. The film reflects this struggle with journalistic truth-telling as a central theme.

🌟 Cast Highlights

• Vojtěch Vodochodský as Tomáš Havlík

• Stanislav Majer as Milan Weiner, the principled editor-in-chief

• Tereza Ramba, Milan Ondrík, and Kristýna Podzimková in supporting roles

The performances are deeply human, with Vodochodský bringing youthful idealism and emotional vulnerability to the lead role.

🏆 Critical Reception & Awards

Waves premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award. It was widely acclaimed by critics for its emotional depth, narrative precision, and bold historical storytelling. The film went on to win several national awards, including:

• Best Film at the Czech Lion Awards

• Best Director (Jiří Mádl)

• Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Music

• Best Foreign Language Film at the Satellite Awards

• Slovakia’s Sun in a Net Award

• Official submission for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards

🔍 Themes and Impact

At its core, Waves explores the clash between journalism and propaganda, the moral weight of silence, and the cost of truth. It is both a historical reflection and a universal commentary on the power of the media—and how fragile that power becomes under authoritarian rule.

In an age where disinformation and media suppression are still global concerns, Waves feels timely and essential.

🎯 Conclusion

Waves is more than a period piece. It is a powerful, emotionally charged exploration of freedom, loyalty, and the responsibility of journalists to speak truth to power. With its stunning visuals, heartfelt performances, and political relevance, it stands as one of the most important Central European films in recent memory.