Original subtitles

Some characters in this film are inspired by real people 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.

Media are 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 heat not working 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!

We want light! We want light!

Move it! Get in the vans!

Move it! Let's go!

WAVES

??mostly cloudy.

In Bohemia and Moravia, expect local showers

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 by any chance?

We want light! We want light!

We want light! We want light!

Stop! Stop!

- Quiet! Quiet! - Stop!

Stand still!

Havlík, hello?

What?

Pavel?

Where've you been?

At Jaroš. We were talking about 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.

The day after tomorrow, I'm auditioning for his radio show.

COME TO THE AUDITION!

Forget it!

Forget it, it's dangerous!

Weiner?

Yes.

HAVL?K 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. - 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! Ok, I'll be right there.

Excuse me. Keep working, I'll be right back.

Hello?

Can I have that message, please?

You just won the audition!

May I offer you a job in our newsroom?

No, 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??

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 is 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 is doing at the radio

would be impossible just 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 you.

I know that a few days of unemployment could send your brother to an orphanage.

I don't mean to push you. I want to help you.

Take the Weiner job. I'll give you the best recommendation.

Good night.

So, sign here.

- Hello! - 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 ? 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.

Milan, they edited everything out again. It's pointless to broadcast it like this.

- I hope he'll like it here. - He's gonna love it!

Now excuse me.

Jarunka? Can you come with us, please?

- I'm Honza Petránek. Welcome! - Havlík, pleased to meet you.

- Šimr. 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

who is returning after 5 years as our correspondent in Africa.

And Ludvík Cermák who is back from Paris.

A lot of homecomings.

A month ago, Dienstbier returned from New York.

Now there's 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 ripped out long hair.

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 are 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 from them must 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 street lights 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, 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 a half of it.

What are they saying?

They're bothered by Moscow being smeared.

And you wanting to source news for 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's some eggs and bread in the food closet.

Okay.

- Are you studying for your history class? - Yeah, sure.

Good night!

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.

Like now.

Right, the soup isn't very good. Do you cook?

I do.

Let's get going early in the morning. At 7 am.

- As you say. - Night!

Good night!

You gotta be kidding me!

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 a mistake.

- Are you Jozef Bokroš? - Yes.

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?

Nope.

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 these letters had come from.

Those letters were fake.

ON AIR

Someone wrote almost 300 of them and sent them to us.

Because that someone is 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 you name. Bye. - Yes.

Thank you very much!

We appreciate it! Bye!

All their lines are busy.

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 wanted to know why I recommended you to work with Weiner.

They asked about you and your brother.

But they were reasonable, they let 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! Don't leave me hanging! - I'm not snitching on anyone!

You don't have to! Sign it and they'll leave you alone.

- It may be even 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 an orphanage.

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 here.

Fifth floor.

You stay here and keep watch. Let's go!

Every year, millions of tourists stream across the borders of European countries.

Supposedly, this great migration spells great hope for Europe.

I'm not just standing here like a dupe!

We even managed to take a few pictures.

We can't broadcast this.

Trust me, now it would be bad tactics.

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, 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!

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 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?

Alexander Dub?ek.

A young Slovak Communist.

For the first time, he openly spoke about free speech.

Well??

Let's give his some praise, then.

This Dub?ek.

Move it! Everything to the loading ramp!

FREE SPEECH DUB?EK

Stop! Stop!

Stop!

Stop!

Fucking school boys!

We have a reason to be optimistic.

Soon we'll be able to bring you reliable information. 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 got my little brother in my care.

- Comrade Havlík! - Good evening!

Good evening.

I don't know anything about any tape.

Why didn't you tell us what your brother was involved in?

We know that 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 is 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

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!

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!

Seven!

Six!

Five!

Four!

Three!

Two!

One!

Happy New Year!

May you always be our funny man, Luboš!

Secret police!

Good evening!

What is this, gentlemen?

There's one hiding here! Come check him out!

Whose bag is it?

Whose bag is it?

Mine.

Karel!

Happy New Year 1968!

- What? - I think you overslept!

What?

What time is it?

It's 9!

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 that note signed.

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, I was 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!

I will! 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 ?imr 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 what obsolete equipment

and which studios to get rid of before the end of this 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 that you should know not everyone supports you.

And that he's a real, normal person and a Communist.

- And? - He said you were an imperialist agent

and wanted to speak on the Radio which I told him 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 who is dissatisfied with International Life broadcasts.

Comrade Záruba, welcome to Czechoslovak Radio.

Hello.

You said you objected to me mentioning the possibility

that our elections may have been fraudulent.

And that I oppose Moscow and the Soviet Union.

Tell me, comrade Záruba, do you really believe that in the past 20 years,

99.9% of people 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 based 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? 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 in a certain period

they forced people to stay out of the ballot box.

I heard it happened in some places.

Could it be considered election fraud?

When the ballot isn't secret?

- You are trying to manipulate me. - No, I'm asking you.

Does it amount to election fraud? Yes or no, answer the question.

ON AIR

Damn!

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 Dub?ek

General Secretary of the Communist Party.

Starting now, media are allowed to use international news sources.

Such as AFP or Reuters.

Good evening!

Good evening!

It's in the news all over the world, in France, in the USA:

"Czechoslovakia finds its perfect balance."

Oh my love!

Oh my love!

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 meaning 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 be dangerous.

You just know.

I want it to be meaningful to him.

To Pavel?

The Red Star newspaper.

How they asked me to comment on the events in Czechoslovakia?

Yes?

I wrote that there was a thaw, a liberalization,

that Dub?ek could abolish censorship.

I wrote we were Communists who wanted socialism but a human one

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 first-hand 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.

International Life at Czechoslovak Radio, hello!

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 KARL?N, 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, RESIDENCE OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK PRESIDENT

I got something for you.

So that you don't starve 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.

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 governments 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.

Would you answer a few questions about your customer experience?

No, I'm sorry, I'm 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 we can use against Vera Štovícková. Anything!

- Proof that she's a Western spy! - I don't know anything like that!

What do you think happens to young guys in jail?

You think murderers and perverts make them happy?

It's you choice: your brother or Štovícková

We have proof that you are cooperating with Western intelligence.

I do nothing of that kind!

What do you do with this?

How should I put it?

I cook the recipes in it.

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 lose someone!

- Why do you think I'm doing this? - I don't give a damn!

I don't wanna live like this! If Mom and Dad only saw you!

I at least distribute leaflets. What do you do?

I work for Weiner.

What?

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 is Czech for freedom.

Censorship is no more. Hooray!

Petr!

Tomáš!

Thank you!

Luboš!

"Socialism with a human face." 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 don't call it "socialism with a human face" but "fascism".

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 already 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 passing between us

and that we would all be there. It was the right place and time.

And when they barged into V?ra's apartment,

how did they know where to find things written in French? Again,

someone must've told them.

- Who else would've known? - Let's not go there, Luboš!

Obviously, they are 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 Svoboda!

Tomáš! Did you check out the external studios?

I did.

I'd like to take a look at it too 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.

Just the thing with the tape.

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.

Bul can't just ignore it.

- Milan! Wine? - Thank you.

- Want some? - Sure!

- He never told us he had a brother! - He was probably ashamed of me!

Do you have wine or should I get more?

We do and you should!

Well, it's??

- We're happy. - It helps the team.

You fell asleep with the kids, didn't you?

- Turn the music down? - No, it's fine.

Milan!

A brain tumor.

We don't know 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.

In this new

democratic socialism,

try to finally find the time to think

about who or what really matters

in your life.

Good night.

Happy birthday!

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 are 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 are 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 isn't 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 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.

All 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 here!

- 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, dear,

there's some money hidden between the mats in the bathroom.

Take it and get out of the country while you can.

Promise me!

Promise me!

Hello?

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.

We can keep broadcasting either from our switch room

or the army wartime switch room.

It'll broadcast from all our offices in Prague and other cities.

We'll all share 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. It's okay if you decide to leave now.

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 are about to make an announcement of exceptional importance.

Good evening. Good evening.

God bless you!

Karel Jezdinský, Czechoslovak Radio.

We need comrade Dub?ek'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?

What do you expect to happen when an angry mob clashes with this army?

Government statement.

Yes?

I'm off.

ON AIR

Dear listeners!

Yesterday, that is on August 20, at around 11 pm,

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 Dub?ek.

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 Dub?ek! Hoffman had the transmitter shut down.

Call Dub?ek, damn it! I'll patch him through.

LIBLICE RADIO TRANSMITTER TOWER

Liblice transmitter, Jonášek speaking.

This is Czechoslovak Radio.

General Secretary Alexander Dub?ek wants to speak with you.

What?

Of course!

Bastards!

We stand with you! We stand with you!

We don't know how much longer we'll stay on 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 shooting at civilians.

People have been killed in Prague and the injured number in the hundreds.

The troops mistook the National Museum for the Radio

and kept firing at it incessantly for several minutes.

But it seems they are already on their way here

to stop free radio broadcast.

- We've been disconnected. - What?

They shut down our connection to Prague.

Dub?ek, Svoboda! Dub?ek, freedom!

We're still in the studio and??

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.

Again, we unequivocally declare our support for our legitimate government

which doesn't approve of this invasion.

Stand aside!

Stand aside! It's pointless!

Embassy of East Germany

Embassy of the Soviet Union

Dub?ek, Svoboda! Dub?ek, freedom!

Dub?ek, Svoboda! Dub?ek, freedom!

Zden?k??last name?

Zden?k ?imr.

Hands up! Move it!

They're inside the building.

The troops are inside the building.

They're inside the building.

V?ra, they're inside the building and they're coming here.

Dear listeners, the troops are already inside the Radio building

and soon, they'll reach the upper floors.

Soon, we'll play the state anthem

which will probably mark the end of free radio broadcast.

Hands up!

Get out! Move it!

Get out of the building! Move it!

Go! Go!

Out of the building!

They're here!

We stand with you, stand with us!

Let us pray!

- Mr. Petránek! - I'm sorry!

The room!

Petránek, Štovícková, Dienstbier, Jezdinský, Cermák. Where are they?

Hello!

SCOUT CHILDREN'S CLUB

- 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

- Hello! - Welcome!

Here you go: the BBC.

Will it work?

That depends on Tomáš.

What are 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 am 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!

(names of the legitimate leaders of Czechoslovakia)

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.

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 others in all 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.

To the Radio. Quick!

Damn it!

Dub?ek, Svoboda! Dub?ek, freedom!

WE TRUST YOU!

In the streets, people are calling for our leaders.

But several sources have confirmed

our 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 am not a wolf by blood

- and only my?? - What's going on here?

Go home, boy!

Go home!

Don't move!

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 the news from Pilsen and Ceské Budejovice

but first, let's hear from playwright Václav Havel and Jan Tríska in Liberec.

Thank you gentlemen. What's the situation over there?

- To Podolí, right? - Yeah.

Stop!

Don't stop! Don't stop!

Stop!

Stop that car! Stop that car!

Yes??

Definitely.

We've just been informed that in Podolí, the Soviets shot a car into pieces.

The people inside were students distributing leaflets.

According to this yet unverified information, none of them survived.

(names of the legitimate leaders of Czechoslovakia)

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!

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 Dub?ek speak to the nation.

We stand with you, stand with us.

Czechoslovak leaders are returning after six days of negotiations in Moscow.

People can't wait to hear their message to the nation.

We are certainly very hopeful,

hoping to hear good news regarding our future.

The others just arrived at the Castle.

Dub?ek'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??

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 if I can handle living here.

Let's leave together!

Pavel left the country.

Let's leave too!

We can't all just leave!

Or nothing will ever change here.

Some are more useful abroad, some here.

I got you something.

To remember me.

Good luck!

International Life newsroom.

- Can you take it downstairs for approval? - Yep.

And make me a coffee. Thank you!

Hey 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.

Hey!

I heard you got asylum in Austria.

I did.

But I came back.

Why?