Brothers (2023 film)

Brothers (Bratři) is a 2023 historical action drama film directed by Tomáš Mašín from a screenplay written by Marek Epstein. The film is based on the novel The Testament by Barbara Mašín. It is based on a controversial story of Josef Mašín and Ctirad Mašín. It was selected as the Czech entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.

Plot
The film follows brothers Josef and Ctirad Mašín, sons of Josef Mašín who put up armed resistance against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia during the period 1951–1953.

Cast

 * Oskar Hes as Josef Mašín
 * Jan Nedbal as Ctirad Mašín
 * Adam Ernest as Milan Paumer
 * Matyáš Řezníček as Václav Švéda
 * Tony Mašek as Zbyněk Janata
 * Tatiana Dyková as Zdena Mašínová
 * Karolína Lea Nováková as Nenda Mašínová
 * Václav Neužil as Ctibor Novák
 * Stefan Konarske as Captain Koller
 * Saro Emirze as Commissioner Haneke
 * Charles Lemming as Oberst Hoffmann
 * Matěj Hádek as Zbyněk Roušar
 * Karel Dobrý as STB Colonel
 * Alžběta Malá as Hanka
 * Petr Uhlík as Vladimir Hradec
 * Daniela Kolářová as Grandma Ema
 * Marián Mitaš as Josef Mašín (voiced by Pavel Řezníček)
 * David Bowles as Captain Clark
 * Adam Vacula as ensign Adam
 * Fritz Fenne as Major Vopo

Production
The film is based on a book Zatím dobrý by Jan Novák which tells story of Mašín group escape from Czechoslovakia. The film is directed by Tomáš Mašín a distant relative of Mašín brothers. He started preparations of the film in 2010. Mašín had problem to find finances but in 2019 he gained foundation 15 million CZK from Czech film fund but shooting was stalled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic. The film also gained 1.5 million CZK on crowdfunding site Hithit.

During May 2022 filmmakers were choosing locations for filming, worked on costumes and were casting supporting roles. Oskar Hes and Jan Nedbal were chosen for main roles. Shooting started in early August 2022. Shooting concluded on 6 December 2022. First trailer for the film was released on 16 June 2023. Final trailer was released on 12 September 2023.

Release
Premiere in Czech theatres was scheduled for 26 October 2023 which is a seventy years anniversary of Mašíns escape to West Germany. It is distributed by CinemArt in the Czech Republic.