The Czech Way (2015)

Feature documentary The Czech Way tells a story of the economic transformation that took place in the 90s to the Czech Republic after it had ceased to be Czechoslovakia. The change in the economic situation occurred against the backdrop of Czech and Slovakian independence. While the change in national status of the region was important, the key factor in the radical change in Czech society, that effected the radical change from a totalitarian society into a democratic one was the establishment of privatisation. This precipitated a vast redistribution of wealth from the state to individuals. One consequence of this wave of privatisation was that a very problematic practice, known as tunnelling, emerged. Tunnelling is a process where huge companies and properties unexpectedly went bankrupt, because of mismanagement of company assets which were transferred to private businesses, sometimes in offshore locations, by certain members of these companies. The consequences of the extent of privatisation and the resulting behaviours that it created can still be felt today. The large transfer of property to private interests changed the political configuration of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. This meant that totalitarianism was left behind but the region had to deal with new issues in the form of privatisation. The Czech Way looks at examining the complex legacy of privatisation that still is pertinent today.