Toman

This fascinating historical drama looks at the life of "the Czech Schindler," Zdenek Toman, a controversial figure who was an unsavory politician and dubious entrepreneur, but also the savior of hundreds of Eastern European Jews. From the director of Zelary (PSIFF 2004). Who was Toman? The title character is an unsavory politician and dubious entrepreneur, but also the savior of hundreds of Eastern European Jews, often referred to as "the Czech Schindler." Zdenek Toman was born Zoltán Goldberger in 1909, in Sobrance, Slovakia, the son of Hungarian Jews. We follow this unscrupulous careerist as he works his way up from low-level bureaucrat in the Czech-government-in-exile during World War II to the head of Foreign Intelligence in Czechoslovakia 1945-48. In this position, he blackmails, intimidates, and levies false accusations in order to strengthen the communist presence in the bureau. He also exploits his diplomatic passport and international contacts to fraudulently raise money for Communist Party electoral campaigns. But he organizes the departure of Jews and refugees who survived the Holocaust through Czechoslovakia to Palestine, then supplies them with arms. His help, however, was never selfless. This fascinating biopic comes from Ondrej Trojan, the director of Zelary (PSIFF 2004), an Oscar® nominee for Best Foreign Film. Pavel Safr: Hold the press, a Czech production filmed a feature devoid of our customary national lies. This makes watching it part shock and part absurd experience, but is all the more important and perhaps even therapeutic.