By Alex Deleon

The  full scale revival of the Karlovy Vary film festival is an encouaging sign that the end of the Covid era may soon be in sight. Delayed only a month from its usual early to mid July slot the 55th edition  is in full swing with a healthy turnout of fans and celebrities.

Guests wore COVID-safe wrist bands after having presented proof of vaccine status on arrival, but few masks were in sight in the fully packed hall at the opening ceremony

High profile at the opening  was  iconic English actor, Sir Michael Caine (Alfie, '66)  now 88, who was honored with a lifetime award  for his contribution to world cinema in a career spanning  over five decades

 A centerpiece film of the fest will be  Zatopek, a biopic  centering on the great Czech long distance runner, Emil Zátopek, who died in 2000 at age 78..   Zátopek put  Czechoslovakia squarely  on the  postwar international map when he took Gold and silver in the 5000 and 10,000 meter events at the London summer Olympics in 1948.

He is, however, best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. There he won gold in the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life and won that as well.  In record time.  

In  2013  Runners World Magazine selected him as the Greatest Runner of All Time.

He is the only person  ever to win the 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres, and Marathon. all in the same Olympic Games

Zátopek was noted for his unorthodox running style with choppy steps and rolling his  head from side to side with a pained expression on his face as he ran.  

He was nicknamed the "Czech Locomotive". 

The biooic in question is directed by  David Ondrícek, and stars actor Václav Neuzil, (41)  in the title role.   Unquestionably the perfect picture to showcase in this years KVIFF    

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