The True Story Behind “Amerikanka”: A Cinematic Journey of Resilience and Hope

The story of Amerikanka — a tale that has previously moved audiences as a play and a book — is now set to make its Czech cinematic debut on September 26.

Viktor Tauš, the film’s director, recalls the moment he first met “Amerikanka,” or Zdena — 25 years ago when he was living on the streets. “She became like a sister to me, and we spent days talking about everything that had happened in our lives,” he says. 

Director/producer Viktor Tauš

Zdena’s grew up with her family in a circus community in Sarasota, Florida. Her mother struggled to find success in America and decided to return with her three children to what was then communist Czechoslovakia. 

She never made it back, and the children ended up in the brutal foster care system.

When Zdena shared this story with Viktor, he was immediately struck by the need to bring her life to the screen. But first, he had to overcome his own hardships. 

After three months of washing his clothes in the Vltava River and searching for work, he managed to afford his rent and escape homelessness. From there, his odyssey to make a film about “courage in the face of life’s obstacles, inner strength, and an unwavering belief in hope” officially began.

“I feel like I’m only coming off the street now that the film is finished,” says Victor. 

Magdaléna Boková a Vladimír Javorský

Over the past 25 years, he has built a successful career, earning several Czech Lions for his work in television, but the dream of creating Amerikanka was always present.

The film features a cast of children from orphanages, with Viktor selecting 50 from nearly 2,000 during an extensive casting process. The title role is portrayed by three actresses — Klára Kitto, Julie Šoucová, and Pavla Beretová — who were 9, 17, and 38 years old, respectively, during filming. 

Klára Kitto, Julie Šoucová, and Pavla Beretová.

Actress Pavla Beretová describes the three-and-a-half-year filming process as “wild, crazy, exploratory, sometimes terribly difficult, and endlessly beautiful.” She praises the film’s stylization, noting that while it may not reflect strict realism, it evokes a deeper emotional truth.

Director Viktor Tauš emphasizes the authenticity of the story, stating, “At first glance, nothing in the film is real. And yet everything you see in the film is real. The story. The characters. The scars. Everything is a lived experience.” He describes the film as an emotional journey that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit, the transformative power of hope, and the pursuit of genuine happiness — even without the guarantee of a happy ending.

Once a girl, now a woman.

The Amerikanka invites viewers on a raw and unfiltered exploration of the human soul, urging them to confront parts of themselves they might not even know exist. Ultimately, the film is a testament to the triumph of faith, hope, relentless self-improvement, and the desire to become a resilient, independent person.

In cinemas from September 26, 2024.