Guard Nr. 47, based on the 1926 novel of the same name by Josef Kopta, will be the first remake in the history of Czech cinema. The first film version was in 1937 by Josef Rovenský, using the script of renowned filmmaker Otakar Vávra.

Well-known scriptwriter Eduard Verner reshaped the story before his death in 2003 and Renč also had script support from filmmaker Zdeněk Zelenka.

Renč is just concluding post-production of At one´s own risk, shot in Bosnia and Romania and produced by Nova. Principal photography for his latest project began Nov. 1.

"I saw the original film version and it was a good work for that time period," Renč told the Czech daily Mladá Fronta Dnes. But he adds his version will be totally different: "We intend to make a coarse film from a course village where nobody takes pity on the main character."

The leading role is played by Karel Roden, who starred in 15 minutes with Robert De Niro and in Mr. Bean´s Holiday with Rowan Atkinson. And just as Renč appeared in the Oscar-winning Jan Svěrák film Kolya, Svěrák will have a role in Guard Nr.47 as a war veteran.

Czech Television (www.ceskatelevize.cz), which for the past decade has worked via co-productions, decided to make and release this movie alone for a budget believed to be around €1 million. The film is set for release in the second half of 2008.

"The subject matter of the book and of the script is close to our hearts," Czech Television associate producer Ilona Jirásková told FNE, adding that the company plans to be sole producer of one or two films a year. "Renč´s film will not be commercially oriented, but it is interesting enough to be done."