Hot Docs 2008

The last president of Czechoslovakia and first president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel-former dissident, leader in the Velvet Revolution, playwright, poet, essayist and Rolling Stones fan-is simply an icon among contemporary political leaders. A former enemy of the state who came to be freely elected as its leader, Havel was thrust into the spotlight of international politics and celebrity. Filmmaker Pavel Koutecký was given unprecedented access to Havel, following him from 1992, on the cusp of the first election of the newly formed Czech Republic, to his return to civilian life in 2003. The result is fascinating. Whether giving Keith Richards restaurant tips or facilitating the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, Havel is seen to be always, resolutely, himself. An honest portrait of an honest politician, Citizen Havel is a rare gem of a documentary.
-Sean Farnel