Batalion (Battalion). 1927. Directed by Premysl Pražský

Film

Batalion (Battalion). 1927. Czechoslovakia. Directed by Přemysl Pražský. Courtesy of NFA

Batalion (Battalion). 1927. Czechoslovakia. Directed by Premysl Pražský. Screenplay by Josef Hais Týnecký. With Karel Hašler, Bronislava Livia, Vladimír Pospíšil-Born. Silent. 78 min.

Faced with a disintegrating marriage, a successful lawyer (Karel Hašler) descends into alcoholism, taking up residence in a dingy bar named “Battalion” in the old city of Prague. Standing up for the rights of his fellow outcasts, he becomes a hero to the poor and disenfranchised, but is unable to purge his private demons. This late silent film combines a harsh social realism with a daring use of avant-garde techniques to suggest its protagonist's inner struggle. HD video.

This film accompanies Ecstasy and Irony: Czech Cinema, 1927–1943.

Sun, Apr 16, 2017, 2:00 p.m.

MoMA, Floor T2, Theater 2

The Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 2
Tue, Apr 11, 2017, 4:00 p.m.

MoMA, Floor T1, Theater 1

The Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 1

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