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Some characters in this film were inspired by real persons and share their names.
The Soviet Union keeps Eastern European countries under its control.
Their governments are subordinate to Moscow.
1,300,000 political prisoners.
5,800 executions.
Millions of ruined lives.
Any sign of freedom is suppressed by force.
The media is subject to strict censorship.
The largest media organization
is the radio.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA OCTOBER 31, 1967
STRAHOV COLLEGE DORMITORY
They gotta be kidding! Again?
As if the broken heating wasn't enough.
It's Milan Weiner at the microphone.
We have experts...
Let's go outside.
...who regularly travel abroad...
We want light! We want light!
Move it!
Let's go!
Move it! Get in the vans!
Move it! Let's go!
WAVES
...mostly cloudy.
In Bohemia and Moravia, local showers can be expected
and snow in the mountains...
Mrs. Šafková, this is Tomáš Havlík. I'm sorry to bother you.
My brother isn't home yet. Is he at your place, perhaps?
We want light! We want light!
Stop! Stop!
- Quiet! Quiet! - Stop!
Stop!
What's going on?
- Oh, God! - Stand still!
Havlík speaking, hello?
What?
No! What're you doing? Get off me!
Pavel?
Where've you been?
At Jaroš's. Discussing something.
Why didn't you call me?
Cops brutally beat up some students in Strahov.
How do you know?
I called the whole town because of you.
I'm sorry.
You're sorry.
Do you know who Milan Weiner is?
Yes, I do.
He's been doing really interesting talks for students.
I'm auditioning for his radio show the day after tomorrow.
COME TO THE AUDITION!
Forget it.
Forget it. It's dangerous.
Weiner?
Yes.
HAVLÍK FAMILY
You could've gotten a beer for me too. Why can't I have a sip?
I'd give you beer.
But not in front of our parents.
Dumbass!
- Hello, Comrade! - Hello.
- Hello.
We're about to go grocery shopping.
Sign here.
Be careful about this, Mr. Havlík.
He'd have enough to eat if he stayed with us.
Pavel?
Damn it!
CZECHOSLOVAK RADIO
- Hello. - Hello.
Excuse me. Where's the Weiner audition?
Are you here for the audition?
Here.
Okay, I apologize for the delay,
but we're sort of on alert today.
We're expecting an important message.
Please print your name and leave some contact information.
You may begin. Go ahead.
Dienstbier.
Yes, but we're in the middle of an audition. I can't just...
What if they call me here while I'm gone?
Jesus! Okay, I'll be right there.
Excuse me. Keep working. I'll be right back.
EXIT
Hello?
Well done, young man.
Can I have that message, please?
You just won the audition.
May I offer you a job in our newsroom?
It's a misunderstanding, I'm not looking for a job.
CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY
- Good morning. - Hey.
It's Milan Weiner at the microphone.
A few years ago, world institutions agreed on a common...
Hello. Comrade Havlík?
That's me.
Can you come with me? Comrade Director asks for you.
Director of what?
The communications authority, Comrade Hoffman.
- Hello. - Honor to labor.
Comrade Tomáš Havlík.
Take a seat.
So, you've been offered a job at the Radio?
Milan Weiner's the talk of the town now.
I only went to the Radio because of my brother.
I don't speak any languages. What would I do in that newsroom?
Weiner wants you as a technician.
Could you give us some privacy?
Of course.
Tomáš...
I think you should accept the job.
The things that Weiner's doing at the Radio
would have been impossible only a year ago.
The Czechoslovak Radio is under us. I can approve it.
If Weiner wants you...
I don't want it, Comrade Director. I like it here.
But thank you.
Mr. Havlík, wait.
I'm you sure you feel things are starting to change.
- I'm not interested in politics. - Weiner is a chance. For all of us.
Think about it. I mean it.
Hello, Hoffman speaking.
Hello, Comrade Director.
When Weiner called and said he'd hire you, I was happy.
Not only because I'm rooting for him.
Also, layoffs are coming.
It'll mostly concern younger employees, which probably means also you.
A few days of unemployment
could send your brother to a children's home.
I don't mean to push you. I want to help you.
Take the Weiner job. I'll give you the best recommendation.
Have a nice evening.
So, sign here.
- Hello. - Bye.
Bye.
Again?
A surprise check.
About the Radio,
I didn't get the job with Weiner, so don't worry.
What about you? Any news?
Nope.
- Bienvenue à Prague, my friends! - Turn it down, damn it!
We're bringing you the hottest banned world hits.
Turn it down!
Rest assured we'll be playing them here in Prague.
It's gonna be a hell of a ride!
Turn it off or I'll throw it out!
- Calm down, Luboš. - What?
They're just messing with you. You know them.
That's what ticks me off.
Just a second.
Friends...
may I have your attention, please?
We have a new team member. Tomáš Havlík, technician.
Jarda Pavelka will teach him everything.
They edited everything out again. It's pointless to broadcast it like this.
I hope he'll like it here.
Now excuse me.
Jarunka? Can you come with us, please?
Yes, of course.
- I'm Honza Petránek. Welcome. - Havlík. Pleased to meet you.
- Šimra. Welcome. - Havlík. Tomáš.
- Jirka. We've already met. - Tomáš Havlík.
- Karel Jezdinský. Pleased to meet you. - Havlík.
- A Ludvík Cermák. - Havlík.
I'm happy to welcome back Vera Štovícková.
She's returning after five years as our correspondent in Africa.
And Ludvík Cermák, who's back from Paris.
A lot of homecomings.
A month ago, Dienstbier returned from New York.
Now there're two more. Didn't they do well abroad?
I'm glad they're back.
Right.
I understand you refused to broadcast
a mandatory news item from the Czechoslovak press office?
I wanted to verify it.
Excuse me?
It said that students went on a vandalism rampage in Strahov
and attacked police officers.
I sent someone there.
They found no signs of vandalism.
Only blood stains.
And chunks of long hair ripped out.
Weiner, mandatory news items are mandatory.
I didn't want the Radio to look stupid.
At a talk for students in Bratislava, you reportedly said,
"If you rely on a single source, you're not a journalist.
Whether you read the papers, listen to the radio or watch TV,
you get the same censored information.
At International Life, we speak a total of 11 languages,
but we're only allowed to use the Czech and Soviet press office.
And even the news items we get have to go through news approval,
i.e., censorship, before we can broadcast them."
Isn't it true?
You represent Czechoslovak Radio wherever you are.
Do you know what's in those bags?
Letters from students who dislike your promoting Western press agencies.
We aren't going to use any such agencies.
And the news item you failed to broadcast will be broadcast by the economics team.
Today!
Can I have those?
Go ahead.
After the youths, many of whom were armed,
started destroying streetlights and parked cars,
the police officers had no choice but to take appropriate action
to restore peace and safety for residents of Prague
and, by extension, for all residents of Czechoslovakia.
All newspapers put it this way.
No student is going to listen to the Radio after this.
...of our country. You, Mr. Weiner, are one of them.
- Jesus! - Sure.
- How much have you read so far? - About half of it.
What are they saying?
They're bothered by Moscow being smeared.
And you wanting to source news from non-socialist countries.
They say that they trust our sources.
Some are pretty blunt.
I'd like to see them being this brave face to face.
But I was talking about verifying information.
What's their problem with that?
Tomáš, would you have a minute?
Sure.
Vera, you and Tomáš are going to see the authors of these letters.
Interview them on this subject.
Take a company car and get going.
Today.
- Hello? - Hey, this is Tomáš.
Hey!
I have an unplanned night shift.
Okay.
There're some eggs and bread in the food closet.
Okay.
- Are you studying for your history class? - Yeah, sure.
Good night.
This soup's gone a little sour, don't you think?
Don't know. I don't cook. At least not Czech cuisine.
But you eat it.
Such as now.
Yeah, the soup isn't very good. Do you cook?
I do.
Let's get going early in the morning. At 7:00 a.m.
- As you say. - Night.
Good night.
You must be joking!
Of course! You're on a business trip, so you get drunk.
And a single woman definitely wants some...
The gentlemen at the bar sent you this bottle.
Good night.
COMENIUS UNIVERSITY, BRATISLAVA
I apologize.
For yesterday.
It's okay.
It was a misunderstanding.
There must be some mistake.
- Are you Jozef Bokroš? - Yes.
And were you at Milan Weiner's talk at this school?
Yes, but I didn't write this letter.
Did he run it by the censors?
No.
ON AIR
Good afternoon. This is Milan Weiner greeting you on Czechoslovak Radio.
When talking to students, I said several times
that using only the Czechoslovak and Soviet press agencies wasn't enough.
Then we received several letters from upset students who disagreed with me.
But since verifying information is a part of journalism,
we went to Bratislava,
to the university where most of the letters had come from.
The letters were fake.
ON AIR
Someone wrote almost 300 of them and sent them to us.
Because that someone's rooting for lies.
At International Life, we believe
that our listeners of any age aren't interested in lies.
Write us or call us right now.
Call us if you want at least the Radio to speak the truth.
We stand with you.
International Life newsroom.
- Dienstbier, International Life. - Thank you.
Czechoslovak Radio.
Hello?
International Life.
Call Weiner. Now!
- I'll write down your name. Bye. - Yes.
Thank you very much.
We appreciate it. Bye.
All their lines are busy.
DIRECTOR
Come in.
Comrade Havlík is here.
- Leave us. - Okay.
Tomáš, we're in trouble.
What happened?
They're doing background checks on everyone in your newsroom.
They want to know why I recommended you to work with Weiner.
They asked about you and your brother.
But they were reasonable. They're letting me talk to you first.
I vouched for you.
They're primarily after the journalists...
but you have to sign that you'll cooperate with them.
- Tomáš! You can't leave me in the lurch! - I'm not ratting anyone out!
You don't have to! Sign it and they'll leave you alone.
- It might even be better that way. - What?
Then they'll leave you alone.
You just have to sign that you'll cooperate.
Or you lose your job and your brother ends up in a children's home.
And who knows what they'll want from me.
Their system is falling apart and they're kicking around in agony.
We just have to stick it out.
Tomáš!
I heard someone was taking pictures of my daughter in kindergarten.
Don't leave me hanging now.
Please.
- Hello. - Hello.
Can we see Mr. Weiner? We know he's still in the building.
Fifth floor.
You stay here and keep watch. Let's go.
It's 10:00 p.m.
The World Tonight.
Jan Petránek discusses foreign affairs.
Every year, millions of tourists stream across the borders of European countries.
Supposedly, this great migration spells great hope for Europe.
Leave me alone!
There're people here...
It creates mutual understanding.
It is facilitated by cooperation between people...
I'm not just standing here like a dupe!
Ouch. Let her go!
We even managed to take a few pictures.
We can't broadcast this.
Trust me, it would be bad tactics now.
It could be useful later.
We're fighting for free speech. Just like you.
Just be careful.
We'd better take the back exit today.
Okay. I need to finish writing something. We'll lock the door later.
What do you want?
Your IDs! The handbag!
What do you want?
What?
Where's the tape?
What tape?
Hey!
What do you mean? What "hey"?
As the president, I can no longer tolerate
the creeping influence of pro-Western imperialist elements in Czechoslovakia.
Subversive, harmful and hostile elements.
Even at such institutions as Czechoslovak Radio.
Even the president is talking about the Radio now!
These are letters from listeners who support us.
Real letters. We can't even answer them all.
No one's gonna ask you about that!
The secret police stormed the building and you keep pretending--
They found nothing.
They only damaged our equipment. How dare they?
Do you know what they want?
Listen, Weiner. If you have anything they want, get rid of it now!
I don't want people to get arrested here.
Will you be responsible for your editors?
You're a communist. So show it, damn it!
Or they'll get you for this in no time.
Hello.
Milan, would you have a second?
FRESH WIND ALEXANDER DUBCEK
Alexander Dubcek.
A young Slovak communist.
For the first time, he openly spoke about free speech.
Well...
let's give him some praise, then.
This Dubcek fella.
Move it! Everything to the loading ramp!
FREE SPEECH
Let's go.
Stop! Stop!
Stop!
Fucking schoolboys!
Dear listeners, we have a reason to be optimistic.
We'll be able to bring you reliable information soon.
We stand with you.
DECEMBER 1967
I think I got lucky.
No male editor wanted to go to Africa back then.
I was the only candidate.
Well, try to make an African dish.
Everyone would love that.
I'm not that brave.
Plus, unlike you, I don't enjoy cooking.
I cook because I have to.
I've got my little brother in my care.
Comrade Havlík.
Good evening.
I don't know anything about any tape.
Why didn't you tell us what your brother was involved in?
Someone from your newsroom has the tape. Do you know who?
What's going on with my brother?
We know someone from your newsroom has the tape.
Do they want to broadcast it?
- Pavel isn't involved in anything. - Where's the tape?
I don't know.
If you don't tell us right now, we'll beat your brother to a pulp.
Or he won't return at all. Do you fucking understand?
I don't know who has it now.
It passes between the editors at random intervals.
Okay.
So, what do you suggest, Comrade?
NEW YEAR'S EVE 1967
Help yourselves.
What is it?
Suya. A Nigerian dish.
Did you make this?
He rejected my Palestine report again.
I wanted to smack him with it.
Did she just let you draw her like this?
- I want to go to India too. - Right?
Always the same. They're just provoking us.
Have some.
The ice queen's cooking.
Thank you.
Like this?
"...and top it with the cheese."
We don't have palm oil anyway. So yes, like this.
Tomáš?
Come, it's almost midnight.
Eight!
Seven!
Six!
Five! Four! Three!
- Hold it! - Two! One!
Hang on a moment.
Happy New Year!
May you always be our funny man, Luboš.
Secret police.
Thanks...
Good evening to you all.
What's this, gentlemen?
There's one hiding in here. Come check him out.
Stand still!
Whose bag is it?
Mine.
Karel!
Happy New Year, 1968.
JANUARY 6
- What? - I think you overslept.
What?
What time is it?
It's 9:00.
My shifts changed.
You got a girlfriend.
How come you're not at school?
I'm sick.
Could you sign the excuse note for me?
Where is it?
In my bag.
I didn't sign this note.
You faked my signature!
I know. You weren't home and I needed it.
You can't write your own excuse notes!
- What was I supposed to do? - Leave it on the table!
- Where were you? - Home.
- Sick again? - Yes, sick again.
Are you going through my stuff?
Damn it, are you going through my stuff?
If you're up to anything sketchy, you're out of this house.
Go to jail or the juvie. I don't care!
Okay, because if nothing changes in this household,
I have no reason to stay here, or in this country!
I turned 17 yesterday, just for your information.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry to hear that, Tomáš.
I'm sorry about what happened.
But you have nothing to be afraid of.
How come?
Prudence isn't knowing how things will turn out.
Prudence is being ready for any outcome.
Which you are.
Results of the audition for international correspondents...
At the end of the year, Comrade Šimr is going to Warsaw.
And in September, our dear comrade Vera Štovícková will start in Tokyo.
Thank you. The meeting is over.
Weiner?
Can I have a quick word with you?
Jezdinský took all the blame for that tape.
But they want more. They're after you.
I got a call about you from Moscow.
They wanted information.
Be careful.
We want to get rid of old, disused studios.
I want your proposals as to what obsolete equipment
and which studios we should get rid of by the end of the year.
It may also concern the emergency army switch room.
The charts for that one are in this cabinet.
Only the director of the communications authority has the key.
Yes, go ahead.
Your name?
Mr. Weiner, there's an angry listener downstairs who wants to speak to you.
He says you should know that not everyone supports you.
And that he's a real, normal person and a comrade.
And?
He said you were an imperialist agent and wanted to speak on the Radio.
I told him it wasn't possible.
Milan, you know you won't get away with this.
Let's hear the other side if they want to talk.
He's an old man.
I'm speaking to a regional communist functionary, a retired worker.
He is dissatisfied with International Life broadcasts.
Comrade Záruba, welcome to Czechoslovak Radio.
Hello.
You said you objected to my mentioning the possibility
that our elections may have been fraudulent.
And that I oppose Moscow and the Soviet Union.
Tell me, do you really believe that in the past 20 years,
99.9% of people have always agreed with the government
as per the election results?
Comrade Weiner,
there is no simple answer to that.
I'm not asking whether you know that for a fact.
I'd like to know if you believe this number is rooted in reality.
Well, I don't think it's quite accurate.
So where does the difference
between the official 99% and the real figure come from?
I think that most people are happy with the way things are.
Perhaps fewer people agreed,
but they didn't express it in the elections.
But why not?
Was everyone able to express
their agreement or disagreement in the elections?
I can't really say.
Comrade Záruba, you are no stranger to politics.
Was the ballot secret? Was everyone able to express--
I admit that during a certain period of time
they forced people to stay out of the ballot box.
I heard it happened in some places.
And could it be considered election fraud?
When the ballot isn't secret?
- You're trying to manipulate me. - No, I'm only asking you.
Does it amount to election fraud? Yes or no, answer the question.
ON AIR
Damn.
And now to the microphones...
What's wrong?
Jarunka, tell him what's wrong.
The director wants to see you upstairs.
Take a seat, please.
The January convention elected Alexander Dubcek
general secretary of the communist party.
Starting now, our media are allowed to use international news sources,
such as AFP or Reuters.
All right, thank you.
Good evening.
It's in the news all over the world, in France, in the USA...
"Czechoslovakia finds its perfect balance."
I used to have everything sorted out.
But now I have no idea.
"Give me a clear direction and I can move the universe."
What?
It's a quote from a play.
But I have no clear direction in my life now.
I just want to do something that I find meaningful.
Was being a foreign correspondent meaningful?
It was.
So you'll go to Tokyo and find your purpose in life again.
How can you tell if something is meaningful to you?
That it's the easiest thing in the world to do.
It can even be dangerous.
You just know.
I want it to be meaningful to him.
To Pavel?
Yeah.
- They're going to release Karlík soon. - That's wonderful.
The Red Star newspaper.
They asked me to comment on the events in Czechoslovakia.
Yes?
I wrote that there was a thaw, a liberalization,
and that Dubcek might abolish censorship.
I wrote we were communists who wanted humane socialism,
and that people were happy about all these changes.
Why are you showing it to me?
They wrote the exact opposite
and published it under my name.
A colleague at Reuters told me they were lying about us.
All Russian newspapers are lying about what's happening here.
I don't know what to do about it.
I'll go talk to Hrabský.
We need someone we can rely on in Moscow to give us firsthand information.
What about you?
Will you go to Moscow, Luboš?
Thank you.
CZECHOSLOVAK EMBASSY IN MOSCOW
Comrade Dobrovský?
Yes?
Khornikov, press secretary.
I want to give you a friendly heads-up.
If you need help with a report, call me.
What about my article in the Red Star? When will you publish a correction?
We don't publish corrections.
MARCH 1968
We'd like to know how Germans see it.
Yes, I'm back. I'm here.
Hello, International Life at Czechoslovak Radio.
Yes, I'm listening.
Is your source reliable?
There are multiple sources, okay. Hold the line, please.
Okay.
Thank you.
Yes.
CZECHOSLOVAK RADIO OFFICES IN KARLÍN, PRAGUE
Why didn't Mr. Weiner want to tell me what was going on?
He wanted only me, Petránek and himself to know.
PRAGUE CASTLE, OFFICE OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK PRESIDENT
I've got something for you.
So you don't starve to death in Tokyo.
Comrade President, citizens are asking what's happening at our universities.
And what does it mean?
We have information, I regret to say,
that illegal student clubs are nurturing subversive or even fascist ideas.
And we won't tolerate it any longer.
Tomáš, is everything ready?
Let me be absolutely clear.
We must finally crack down on anyone who is against us!
Comrade President!
Jan Petránek, Czechoslovak Radio.
What is your reaction to the information about your son
and the alleged exorbitant sum of money in his Swiss bank account?
Allegedly, that money was siphoned out of government funds.
Could you comment on it?
Novotný speaking.
Hello, Mr. Novotný, this is Bank of Lausanne.
Czechoslovak journalists called our offices
and requested information about your bank account.
- Really? - Yes.
Listen, don't give them any information.
Of course. We only wanted to inform you.
I see. Thank you.
And would you answer a few questions about your customer experience?
No, I'm sorry, I'm too busy.
If they call again, find out their names and where they work.
Mr. Novotný, this is Czechoslovak Radio, International Life.
- How did it go? - Go!
May I help you, comrades?
They mustn't take it away from us again.
They won't. We'll give it to them.
Czechoslovak Radio.
- So you didn't know what they were up to? - No!
Stop the bullshit!
We want something against Štovícková. Anything!
- Proof that she's a Western spy! - I don't know about anything like that!
What do you think happens to young guys in jail?
You think murderers and perverts make them happy?
It's your choice, your brother or Štovícková.
We have proof that you cooperate with Western intelligence.
I do nothing of that kind!
And what do you do with this?
How should I put it?
I cook those recipes.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
What're you doing?
What were you thinking?
What the fuck were you thinking?
I don't want to be a wimp like you. I want to do something about it!
You're a hero, because you only care about yourself!
You were still little when Mom and Dad had that crash.
You have no idea what it's like to worry about someone!
- Why do you think I'm doing all this? - I don't give a damn!
I don't wanna live like this! If only our parents could see you!
I at least distribute leaflets! What do you do?
I work for Weiner.
What?
It's happening!
It's happening! It's happening!
Turn on the radio! The president resigned!
The newly elected president of Czechoslovakia is Ludvík Svoboda.
His name bodes well for the country
as svoboda means "freedom" in Czech.
Censorship is no more. Hooray!
Petr.
Tomáš!
Thank you.
Luboš.
"Socialism with a human face." And it ends with...
- Turn it down. - Sure.
"It proves that in any historical situation,
light can be found,
though it may be carried by very few."
I'm glad that Luboš has come to see us from Moscow.
Great job, my friends.
- Cheers! - Cheers!
This isn't how Moscow media see it.
They call it "fascism," not "socialism with a human face."
They often sabotage our office, disconnect our phones.
Most of my international colleagues believe
Moscow will take military action against us.
Don't be so glum.
Those few months in Moscow made you paranoid.
I've heard they're getting the army ready to invade Czechoslovakia.
I hate to ruin this beautiful moment.
I'm happy about all our successes
and I don't want to make any false accusations,
but I think there's a spy among us.
When they found the tape on Karel on New Year's Eve,
they knew what they were doing.
It was the only time they could be sure to find it.
Someone told them it was being passed among us,
and that we would all be there.
It was the right place and time.
And when they barged into Vera's apartment,
how did they know where to find the texts in French?
Again, someone must've told them.
- Who else could've known? - Let's not go there, Luboš.
Obviously, they're trying to infiltrate us,
but be careful with any accusations.
That's exactly what they want.
Let's be careful.
To our new president!
- To freedom of speech! - To freedom.
Tomáš? Did you check out the external studios?
I did.
I'd like to take a look, if you're done with it.
Sure.
Why is he interested in external studios?
Don't know. He just is.
Since when have you been working for them?
Since December.
What did you tell them?
Just the thing with the tape.
Really, nothing else.
I'm trying to defend us as much as I can.
If I didn't, we'd all be busted already.
I won't tell anyone.
But I can't get over it.
- Wine, Milan? - Thank you.
- Want some? - Sure.
- He never told us he had a brother. - He was probably ashamed of me.
Do you still have wine or should I get more?
- We do, but you should. - You can be sure of that.
If her singing is as good as her looks...
Well, it's...
- We're happy. - It helps the team.
You'll be able to...
You fell asleep with the kids, didn't you?
- Should we turn the music down? - No, it's fine.
Milan!
It's a brain tumor.
We don't know at what stage
and nobody knows how it's going to progress.
Thank you.
Believe me, dear listeners,
the fact that I can be here in the studio
and talk to you off the top of my head, so to speak,
instead of reading a preapproved text
is something I consider a true victory of our nation.
In the recent months of newly gained freedom...
please think of our editor-in-chief,
Milan Weiner, who is battling a severe disease.
And in this new...
democratic socialism...
try to find the time to think...
about who or what really matters to you...
in your life.
Good night.
Happy birthday!
90 MINUTES OF SURPRISE
AUGUST 20
Havlík speaking.
Good evening.
Welcome, Mr. Havlík. Come in.
I'm sorry to bring you here this late at night,
but it's a bit of an emergency.
Take a seat.
You're one of the first people in this country to find out.
Anytime now, the Soviet and other Warsaw Pact armies
will cross our borders.
They're heading to Prague. Their planes are already landing.
You need to go to the Radio and facilitate the broadcast...
of this news item.
It says that these armies represent
international aid against fascists in Czechoslovakia.
And that these armies have been invited by the leaders of our country.
But that...
It can't be true!
You need to do it as soon as possible.
This is the worst moment to take risks.
At this point, it's easy to pick your side.
You needed to insert someone with Weiner.
To be safe no matter how things turned out.
Tomáš...
you need to see it in the broadest possible context.
Armies of five countries are coming to Czechoslovakia,
including the Soviet one.
I don't think your parents would like you to play the hero.
They wouldn't like to see you fail to take care of Pavel either.
Him being unable to go to college, to live in dignity.
And all that because of you.
Am I right?
I don't know.
I don't know what my parents would've liked.
But I don't want the person I'm raising to be ashamed of me.
I don't know what broader context I should see it in.
If the Radio says anything else than this, I'll have the transmitters shut down.
- What're you doing? - Pack your stuff. The Russians are coming!
- What? - They're invading us. Pack up your stuff!
Wait! Are we running away?
You gotta leave. I'm staying.
Are you crazy? I'm not going anywhere without you!
Pavel,
please pack your things and leave now!
I gotta go to the Radio.
Pavel,
there's some money hidden in the sewing kit in the bathroom.
Take it and get out of the country while you can.
Promise me.
Promise me!
Hello?
What's going on?
CZECHOSLOVAK RADIO
I'm serious. They're landing in Prague now.
Gentlemen! I've been looking for you. We need to connect the army switch room.
These are all the security keys, charts and manuals.
What're we supposed to broadcast?
We can keep broadcasting either from our switch room
or the army wartime switch room.
We'll be able to broadcast from all our offices in Prague
and other cities sharing a single wire connection.
We'll have to pass it to each other, like in a relay.
What's going on?
KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA DAILY
MOSCOW
INTERNATIONAL AID FOR CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Dobrovský, hello?
Sooner or later, we may get busted for this.
Not just the people who will speak on air. So it's okay if you decide to leave.
But you have to decide now.
We need to lock the building as soon as possible.
It's only a matter of time before the troops find the Radio,
but we'll keep broadcasting as long as possible.
As long as our legitimate government is in power.
Dear listeners, keep your radios on.
Wake up your loved ones and your neighbors.
We're about to make an announcement of exceptional importance.
Good evening. Good evening.
God bless you.
Karel Jezdinský, Czechoslovak Radio.
We need Comrade Dubcek's statement while we can still run it.
We don't know how much time we have left.
Have you lost your mind?
Tanks are coming and you want to tell people to relax and go to work?
An angry mob clashing with an army like that?
What do you think would happen?
Government statement.
Yes?
I'm off.
ON AIR
Dear listeners.
Yesterday, that is on August 20, at around 11:00 p.m.,
the armies of the Soviet Union,
Poland,
East Germany,
Hungary,
and Bulgaria
crossed the borders of Czechoslovakia.
It happened without the knowledge of our president
or the first secretary of the communist party, Alexander Dubcek.
The party's central committee considers this an act of aggression
in violation of the basic tenets of international law.
At the same time...
to prevent unnecessary bloodshed.
Karel, we're off the air. There's just static.
Excellent. Thank you. Honor to labor.
Call Dubcek! Hoffman had the transmitters shut down.
Call Dubcek, damn it! I'll patch him through.
LIBLICE RADIO TRANSMITTER TOWER
Liblice transmitter, Jonášek speaking.
This is Czechoslovak Radio.
General Secretary Alexander Dubcek wants to speak with you.
What?
Hello, this is Dubcek...
Of course!
Bastards!
We stand with you! We stand with you!
We don't know how much longer we'll be able to stay on the air,
but we'll keep broadcasting as long as we can.
USSR
DAILY NEWS
MOSCOW
Fascists in Czechoslovakia! We are aiding Prague!
It's an invasion, you idiots!
What do you know about it? You fascist!
Unfortunately, we have sad news.
Soviet invaders are even shooting at civilians.
People have been killed in Prague and there are hundreds of injured.
The troops mistook the National Museum for the Radio
and kept firing at it for several minutes.
But it seems they are now on their way here
to stop free radio broadcast.
- We've been disconnected. - What?
They shut down our connection to Prague.
Freedom! Freedom...
Dubcek, freedom!
We are a free country.
We're still in the studio and...
Dubcek, Svoboda!
Dear listeners, we're still in the studio,
but tanks are already in front of the building,
which is being protected by a brave, unarmed crowd.
Dubcek, Svoboda!
Again, we unequivocally declare our support for our legitimate government
which does not approve of this invasion.
Go home!
Piss off!
Go to hell!
What're you doing here?
Stand aside!
Stand aside. It's pointless!
EMBASSY OF EAST GERMANY
EMBASSY OF THE SOVIET UNION
Dubcek, Svoboda!
Zdenek. And last name?
Zdenek Šimr.
Hands up! Move it!
They're inside the building.
The troops are inside the building.
They're inside the building.
Vera, they're inside the building and they're coming here.
Dear listeners, the troops are already inside the Radio building
and they'll soon reach the upper floors.
Then we will play the national anthem,
which will probably mark the end of free radio broadcast.
Hands up!
Get out! Move it!
Get out of the building! Get out!
Go! Go!
Out of the building!
They're here.
We stand with you. Stand with us!
Let us pray.
Let them go!
Go home!
- Mr. Petránek! - I'm sorry.
The room!
Petránek, Štovícková, Dienstbier, Jezdinský, Cermák. Where're they?
Hello.
SCOUT CHILDREN'S STUDIO
- Did you see what happened? - Yes.
- Can I ask you a few questions? - Sure.
We're on Cerná Street in Prague.
ITALIAN EMBASSY IN PRAGUE
Please.
- Hello. - Welcome.
Here you go. The BBC.
Will it work?
That depends on Tomáš.
What're you doing here? Drop it!
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
Where there is darkness, let me bring light.
He says someone has to man the switch room
to facilitate regular city operation.
It would only cause more chaos. You don't want that, do you?
I'm a secret police agent. We're with you! You can check!
He says he's a secret police agent.
Check if he's telling the truth.
Simona.
The printing press is running.
TRUST IN THE LEGITIMATE DON'T AID THE INVADERS
INVADERS, GO BACK HOME!
No news yet. We're waiting for him to connect to us.
Maybe they already got him. There must be troops everywhere by now.
He's telling the truth.
If he escapes, you're dead.
SWITCHBOARD ROOM
The bakery in Charles Square can start baking.
Bread delivery has resumed. Flour is rationed out.
Charles Square starts baking first, Karlín 15 minutes later,
other bakeries will follow.
We're patched through.
We're patched through, all on a single wire.
We'll take turns every 15 minutes until the army switch room comes online.
Call all the regions!
This is Czechoslovak Radio staff.
We're back on air!
We support our legitimate government
and condemn the invasion of the Warsaw Pact armies.
We stand with you. Stand with us!
Comrade Director! The troops control the Radio building.
Impossible! Get the car!
MILITARY WARTIME SWITCH ROOM
We have information about the first citizens fleeing Czechoslovakia.
They are requesting asylum in Austria.
Yes, they are requesting asylum in Austria.
People are burning Soviet books
and trying to fight against the overwhelming military power
in smart ways to avoid bloodshed.
Many people are gathering around Soviet tanks.
We'd like to remind you once again, dear listeners
who are still with us...
To the Radio, quick!
Damn it!
Dubcek, Svoboda!
WE TRUST YOU!
In the streets, people are calling for our leaders.
But several sources have confirmed
that the leaders have been captured by the invaders
and abducted to an unknown location.
The 18-year-old student who blocked the troops' path
in front of the party central committee building
was shot in the head and many others were wounded.
The army switch room is online.
You can disconnect the main building and get out of there.
Right, thank you.
What?
Who are you?
Don't move!
...and the pine tree reaches the star.
Because I'm not a wolf by blood
and only my...
What's going on here?
Go home, boy.
Go home.
Don't move!
You fucking traitors!
Don't move!
Damn it!
How come they're still on air?
They're broadcasting through an army switch room for wartime use.
So why aren't we there already?
Because I don't fucking know where it is!
Dear listeners, more studios are joining our relay broadcast.
We'll get more news from Pilsen and Ceské Budejovice,
but first, let's hear from playwright Václav Havel
and actor Jan Tríska in Liberec.
Thank you, gentlemen. What's the situation there?
- To Podolí, right? - Yeah.
- Stop! - Don't stop! Keep going!
Stop!
Stop that car! Stop that car!
Yes...
Of course.
We've just been informed
that the Soviets riddled a car with bullets in Podolí.
The people inside were students distributing leaflets.
According to this yet unverified information, none of them survived.
CZECHOSLOVAK RADIO
The Na Františku Hospital seeks volunteers amid a power outage,
which has also struck other essential services as well as households.
As of yet, there is no news from our leaders in Moscow.
We will persevere
as long as the leaders of our country persevere.
Shame on you, Moscow!
Shame on you, Budapest!
Shame on all of you who have brought violence and evil
to the finally free Czechoslovakia!
Jindra.
What?
Dear listeners, our leaders are returning from negotiations in Moscow.
They are asking Radio employees to connect the Central Committee studio
and let Alexander Dubcek speak to the nation.
We stand with you. Stand with us.
Czechoslovak leaders are coming back after six days of negotiations in Moscow.
People can't wait to hear their message to the nation.
- Dubcek! - Tell us the truth!
The others just arrived at the Castle.
Dubcek's speech is supposed to start in 15 minutes.
Okay.
Yes. Thank you.
Do you hear me?
Yeah. Connecting in three, two, one...
Dear fellow citizens and comrades.
Today we all understand
that from now on, things won't be simple.
Things will be complicated.
But no matter what turns life takes...
...our nation belongs to the community of socialist nations...
That's a surrender.
...and socialist countries.
CZECHOSLOVAK BORDER
WARNING STATE BORDER
Tomáš, I'm not sure I can handle living here.
Let's leave together.
Pavel left the country already.
Come with me.
We can't all just leave...
or nothing will ever change here.
Some are more useful abroad, others here.
I got you something.
To remember me by.
Good luck.
International Life newsroom.
- Can you take it downstairs for approval? - Yes.
- And make me a coffee. Thank you. - Of course.
HELLO, TOMÁŠ, I'M WRITING FROM AUSTRIA...
It's the last one they allowed to be delivered.
Can I write back to him?
But we want to give you one more chance.
- What is it? - A letter to your peers.
An apology for your activities during the arrival of the friendly armies,
and a condemnation of your colleagues
who collaborated on the illegal broadcast.
If you sign, everything will be forgotten and you can stay at the Radio.
Business as usual.
Tomáš.
Goodbye.
AWAY WITH THE INVADERS
Hello.
I heard you got asylum in Austria.
I did.
But I came back.
Why?
WAVES
Dear listeners, keep your radios on.
Wake up your loved ones and your neighbors.
We're about to make an announcement of exceptional importance.
Journalists who did not yield to the regime
and decided to stay in Czechoslovakia were persecuted and forced to accept jobs
that were inadequate to their qualifications.
Along with their families, they faced psychological and physical assaults
until the 1989 revolution.
They persevered.
Dedicated to all courageous journalists.
We stand with you.