Director Martin Pátek filmed two documentaries on the life and work of the prominent Vsetín native Josef Sousedík for Czech Television and showing them in cinemas and on social media last year. .
The first of them, Osudová strela, is dedicated to the famous train Slovak Strela. Its unique electric drive was invented and constructed by Josef Sousedík. The documentary captures the recent reconstruction of the train as well as the fate of its creators.
The second film is called Edison from Vsetín and, like Osudová strela, is a so-called docudrama (documentary with acted scenes). This film focuses on the personality and life of Josef Sousedík. “The documentary accentuates his personal and professional destinies, it focuses on Sousedík’s support of the partisan movement in Wallachia, which proved fatal for him – he dies during interrogation in the office of the Vsetín Gestapo in 1944,” explained director Martin Pátek.
The film was filmed during the autumn of last year, most of the scenes were taken by the film crew in Vsetín. The footage was taken, among other things, at the company TES, which continues the tradition of business activities of the legendary Vsetín factory owner. Authentic scenes from the interrogation of Sousedík by the Gestapo were created in the building of the former district office on Horní náměstí, which was used for these purposes during the Second World War. “It is interesting that the role of Josef Sousedík was taken up by his grandson Tomáš in the live parts of the documentary. Their appearance is incredible and thus adds another dimension to the film,” described the film’s producer Aleš Hudský.
“Josef Sousedík was an important figure not only in Vsetín, but in the entire republic. His destinies are remarkable and deserve a film adaptation. That is why we are glad that the filmmakers followed in his footsteps to Vsetín. We enjoyed working with the film crew, and I am very much looking forward to the result,” said Deputy Mayor Pavel Bartoň.
Both documentaries will appear on the Czech Television program this year. “In cooperation with our partners, we intend to hold public festive previews in cinemas in Vsetín, Zlín, Kopřivnice, the National Technical Museum in Prague, and also in technical museums in Berlin and Munich,” concluded Hudský.