Private Project

Karol's Message

A troubled 14 year old boy, bullied at school, discovers new strength and self confidence when his caring grandfather teaches him about the courage and faith of the young Karol Vojtila, the priest who would become Pope, John Paul II.

  • Martin Kandra
    Director
    Don't Make Me Wait, Music To Your Ears, Life Triangle
  • Martin Kandra
    Writer
    Don't Make Me Wait, Music To Your Ears, Life Triangle
  • Peter Nunez
    Producer
    Dancing With The Stars
  • Frantisek Kovar
    Key Cast
    The Garde, Bambulka, Orbis Pictus
  • Zuzana Maurery
    Key Cast
    Panelak, The Teacher
  • Lukas Hudcovsky
    Key Cast
  • Eliska Urminova
    Key Cast
  • Tomas Samko
    Key Cast
    Hostage
  • Matus Cumbal
    Key Cast
  • Kristian Drabek
    Key Cast
  • Adam Lukac
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Karolovo Posolstvo
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Feature, Television
  • Genres:
    Family, Drama
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 21 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 17, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Slovakia
  • Country of Filming:
    Slovakia
  • Language:
    Slovak
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • School Premiere
    Bratislava
    Slovakia
    October 26, 2016
    School Premiere
  • Easter Premiere
    Bratislava
    Slovakia
    April 9, 2017
    National TV
Director Biography - Martin Kandra

For me the story of making Karol’s Message began in Huntsville, Texas. In the summer of 2014, I had enrolled in an MA program in Social Media Platforms at Sam Houston State University. Two weeks after arriving I woke up paralyzed in bed and was taken to Huntsville Memorial Hospital, where I was diagnosed, first with leukemia and about a week later with bone cancer. There I was, alone in a foreign country, desperate to see my family for one more time. For about a month I thought I was going to die. But later tests disproved the previous diagnosis and confirmed, instead, that it was reactive arthritis that had put me in a wheelchair.
For two months I was unable to walk. Refusing to give up, I Skype with my classmates, so as not to miss out on the class curriculum. University staff members kindly took care of me and helped me through the most difficult time of my life. Needing a fresh breath of motivation I returned back home to Slovakia for Christmas. That was the last place on Earth I expected would bring me the greatest opportunity of my life. In that “little, big fairyland” began the experience which would restore my lost faith through the series of life-changing surprises.

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Director Statement

Life is the best author!