Karlova Vary is a beautiful historic city in Czech Republic founded in 1349, two hours west of Prague. It’s a magical spa town with healing waters and thermal baths. Every year for a week in July, it hosts a renown international film festival with over 200 films from 20+ countries. There are a handful of celebrities and nearly 2000 film producers, distributors and press people. What has made it especially meaningful for me was the powerful, progressive, excellent quality films I was able to view which I would not have otherwise had access to or known about.
This year they featured films from Iran, banned in their own country, in support of women and freedom. I also saw a deeply moving Korean film called Birth, about a woman novelist who gets pregnant and doesn’t want to have the baby. The female writer/director participated in a Q&A afterwards along with the lead actress. The discussion was simultaneously translated from Korean to Czech to English which was as moving as the movie itself.
The festival, with an estimate of 15,000 viewers, was inspiring and uplifting – to experience film from so many cultures and languages. I indulged my senses with creative expression that has changed how I see the world – exemplifying the best of humanity triumphing over adversity. I feel privileged and blessed to have been here.