*The *Institute for Human Sciences at Boston University cordially
invites you a documentary film screening
Monday, February 13, 2006
6:30 PM
*Citizen Vaclav Havel Goes on Vacation*
* *
Film screening and discussion with director, Jan Novak
This 90-minute documentary recreates a trip around Czechoslovakia that
its future president Vaclav Havel took in 1985 when he was still the
country's most prominent dissident. In the course of one week, he was
twice thrown into jail for 48 hours of preventive detention and followed
by over 300 plainclothed policemen, who would helpfully point out to him
the right way whenever he got lost. Contrasted with the authentic Czech
TV news of the period (the harvest was going swimmingly), the stories of
Havel and his dissident hosts show that you can live a great life even
under the staggering pressure of a totalitarian juggernaut.
Photonics Center
Room 206
Boston University
8 St. Mary's Street, 2^nd floor
[Reception to follow]
*Jan Novak** *was born in the Czech Republic and emigrated to the United
States at the age of 17. He was educated at the University of Chicago
and has been making his living as a writer. Most recently he was awarded
the Czech Republic's most prestigious prize, the Magnesia Litera, for
//So Far, So Good, Petrov, //the Book of the Year of 2004. He has also
won two Sandburg Prizes for Chicago's Book of the Year (//The Willys
Dream Kit//, Hartcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1985, fiction; //Commies,
Spooks, Gypsies, Crooks & Poets//, Steerforth Press, 1995, non-fiction).
Among his other books are a novel, //The Grand Life//, and the
co-authored autobiography of Milos Forman, //Turnaround//, which was
translated into sixteen languages. His play //Ax murder in St.
Petersburg// was the finalist for the Slovak Play of the Year in 2001
and has been playing in the repertory of Bratislava's Astorka Theater
ever since.
* *
*Upcoming Events:*
* *
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
*The Future of **Europe* with *Mark Leonard*, Center for European Reform
Thursday, March 30, 2006
*Europe** and the Muslim World* with *Olivier Roy, *Research Director, CNRS
Details forthcoming
* *
*All events are free and open to the pubic*
*Inquiries: 617-358-2778 or ihs(a)bu.edu <mailto:ihs@bu.edu>*
* *
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Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies
Harvard University
1730 Cambridge Street, 3rd Floor, Suite 301B
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 617.495.4037
Fax: 617.495.8319
http://www.daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu