15-07-2008

Bathory breaks Slovak box office records

By Jana Kadlecova
    Slovak director Juraj Jakubisko´s Bathory smashed Slovak film box office records with 35,925 viewers during the first four-day weekend. Results were announced by distribution company Bontonfilm.

    During the first four days it earned 160,790 Euro (4,843,965 SK) in Slovak cinemas. In some Slovak cities people waited up to two hours before the box-office was opened. Tickets for screenings were sold out, a rarity for Slovak cinema. The only film with higher attendance was Matrix Reloaded released in Slovakia in May 2003, with 4, 000 viewers during the first weekend.

    Attendance in Czech Republic was similarly high. Bathory was seen by 77,000 people during the first weekend and earned 418,575 Euros (9,700,000 CZK).

    Bathory portrays the story of the Countess Elizabeth Bathory, a legend in Slovakia for her bloodthirsty habits. The Czech/Slovak/Hungarian/British co-production is the most expensive to originate in Central Europe, with a budget of €11 million.

    The world premiere was held in the International Film Festival Karlovy Vary, where Jakubisko received a lifetime achievement award. Distribution in Slovak and Czech cinemas started on July 10th.

    Published in Slovakia
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