*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>* * * -- -------------------------------------------------- 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