Aplaus

Young married couple Hana and Dan form a chamber duo. They are young and have their whole lives ahead of them. She sings and he accompanies her on the piano. Hana wins a prestigious competition and immediately attracts interest, or rather, interest in both of them. The agency sends them to concerts all over the country. Some places are great, others terrible. But above all, they have to travel quickly before they are pushed out by winners of other competitions. And Dan and Hana travel and play and are happy. And then one night, on the way back, it all ends. A moment of inattention, a drunk man stumbles along a forest road. Hana stops, Dan finds out that the man is alive, everything is fine. Or is it?

Directed by Jaroslav Brabec, Aplaus leans on a strong ensemble — Marie Málková, David Švehlík, Jitka Smutná — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2012.