19-10-2023

PRODUCTION: Martina Buchelová Wraps Shooting Slovak/Czech Debut Lover, Not a Fighter

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    Lover, Not a Fighter by Martina Buchelová Lover, Not a Fighter by Martina Buchelová credit: Soňa Maletzová

    BRATISLAVA: Slovak director Martina Buchelová’s debut feature Lover, Not a Fighter / Milovník, nie bojovník has wrapped filming and will enter postproduction soon. This romantic tragicomedy is produced by Slovak NINJA film and Czech Unit+Sofa, and coproduced by the Radio and Television Slovakia.

    Andrej has a secret plan - to see no one, meet no one, only talk to his grandma and NOT climb high trees while being drunk. Then he unexpectedly encounters Misa, at whom he previously tried to smile 17 times while drunk at parties. He never remembered the outcome as he was always too drunk, but not today! Today he is sober. Andrej and Misa start to talk and over a glass of Fanta, find an interest in each other. The fight for their young and tender love begins!

    The cast includes actors and non-actors from Slovakia and the Czech Republic: František Beleš, Jaroslav Vojtek, Marián Mitaš, Jaroslava Pokorná, Mia Sofia Arpášová, Adam Burčík and Simona Lewandovska.

    “The film is not only the debut of Martina Buchelová, but also of the production company NINJA film. We believe that the film will bring a fresh perspective of our generation and its kind humour will lighten these chaos-ridden times," producer Michaela Kaliská from NINJA film told FNE. Erika Paulinská is also producing from NINJA film, while Julie Markova Žáčková is the Czech producer from Unit+Sofa.

    The estimated budget of 476,000EUR was supported by the Slovak Audiovisual Fund and the Czech Film Fund.

    The production took place in Bratislava and its surroundings, and it was divided into two phases: 20 days of filming in June 2023 and seven days that were shot in September 2023.

    The completion of the film is planned for the spring/summer of 2024.

    Production Information:

    Producers:
    NINJA film (Slovakia)
    Michaela Kaliská: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    Unit+Sofa (Czech Republic)

    Coproducer:
    Radio and Television Slovakia

    Credits:
    Story, screenplay, director: Martina Buchelová
    DoP: Adam Mach
    Sound designer: Ivan Ďurkech
    Set designer: Frederika Brodzianska
    Costume designer: Vojtech Hanyš
    Editor: Katarína Pavelková
    Cast: Adam Kubala, Michaela Kostková, František Beleš, Jaroslav Vojtek, Marián Mitaš, Jaroslava Pokorná, Mia Sofia Arpášová, Adam Burčík, Simona Lewandovska