Feeling Breathless

A short documentary about an old man who still lives the forgotten way of life in the Krkonoše Mountains (The Czech Republic). Zdeněk Jiřička (born in 1937) has spent almost his entire life in his native cottage in Vojtěšice and its surrounding area. He is an expert of his region and lives in symbiosis with the nature all year round. However, the transformation of traditional way of life also affects this remote Krkonoše village...
The film is an ethnographic and artistic essay about the vanishing generation of farmers from these mountains.

  • Vratislav Karas
    Director
  • Libor Dušek
    Writer
  • Martin Lavický
    Producer
  • Kateřina Krejčová
    Producer
  • Adam Hubálovský
    Executive Producer
  • Michal Rak
    DOP
  • Radek Hanuš
    Composer
  • Vratislav Karas
    Editor
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Už není toho dechu
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 13, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Czech Republic
  • Country of Filming:
    Czech Republic
  • Language:
    Czech
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.90∶1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Vratislav Karas

Vratislav Karas is a young, aspiring filmmaker living in Prague. He studied Documentary Filmmaking at the University of South Wales in Cardiff. Nowadays, he is dedicated to creating online content and working as a freelance documentary filmmaker.

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Director Statement

"Feeling Breathless" is a compelling short documentary that follows the captivating story of Zdeněk Jiřička. He lives in a small abandoned village i the majestic Krkonoše Mountains, the largest mountain in the Czech Republic. Zdeněk has devoted his life to hard work and maintaining a harmonious connection with nature. For generations, he and his family have worked on a farm, far removed from the civilization. His life has been marked by the challenges imposed by two oppressive regimes, economic crises. Now, in his retirement, he reflects on his life.

The filming of this documentary spanned an entire year, capturing the unforgiving beauty of these remote regions. Our film artfully presents the four seasons as a backdrop to portray Zdeněk's various life stages. Searches for answers on how to find peace and develops profound connections with the nature.