Today, thousands of people watched the premiere of the film Freedom unites us on the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which seeks an answer to the question of what freedom means. After the end of the projection, people listened to the song Prayer for Martha at the symbolic time of 17:11. This year, actress Anna Fialová sang it on the balcony of the Metro Palace.
Thousands of people flowed along Národní třída throughout the day, at 17:00 the participants especially filled the space under the Metro Palace balcony to watch the film and listen to the Velvet Revolution anthem, Prayer for Martha. It was almost impossible to walk through the crowd. During the screening, people were still talking and walking down the street, but immediately after the song started, the whole crowd stopped and became silent. Some people just watched, others filmed Anna Fialová’s performance, or quietly sang along. There was loud applause after the end.
The short film Freedom unites us was filmed for the eponymous campaign of the association Thanks, that I can to the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. People could watch the image projected onto the facades of houses on Národní třída at 5:00 p.m. at several projection locations. During the day, it will be projected at regular intervals at individual locations until 8:00 p.m.
The film directed by Ester Valtrová tells the story of seven people from different generations. Some of them experienced the revolution in different regions, others did not experience it at all. The filmmakers conceived the revolution in the film as an intergenerational dialogue, in which it is shown that no matter where people come from or how old they are, they share the same values and desires.
The Thank you, I can initiative prepared a comprehensive program for the November 17 celebrations, from morning to evening it offered exhibitions, street performances or debates dedicated to European topics or Russian aggression against Ukraine.
In the morning, visitors could participate in the Velvet Brunch, for example, and have breakfast or a snack in the middle of the street while discussing with friends and strangers. At 1:00 p.m., the Czech national anthem performed by Ráchel Skleničková was played on the balcony of the Metro Palace. On Václav Havel Square, visitors could listen to a literary reading in the Václav Havel Living Room. According to the organizers, as in previous years, most people gathered at the memorial plaque on November 17, where they came to light a candle or lay flowers.
The anthem of the Velvet Revolution, Prayer for Martha, was sung during the revolutionary days by Marta Kubišová from the balcony of the Melantrich Palace. At the symbolic time, people can hear it at the festival every year.
Source: www.tyden.cz
