The Impossible Voyage

The first feature film about the Slovak national hero Milan Rastislav Štefánik was intended to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the declaration of independent Czechoslovakia. This special effects film balancing between the genres of historical drama, romantic film and adventure thriller (with elements of slapstick comedy) was made by Slovak animator and director Noro Držiak, graduate of the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, as his directorial feature debut. For the chosen genre mix, Štefánik is a more than fitting hero – he was the first Slovak to undertake a voyage around the world, he climbed Mont Blanc several times, was shot down in a plane, conquered many hearts, took an interest in astronomy and on top of all that helped to establish independent Czechoslovakia in 1918. The film inspired by real events follows the life of this steadfast adventurer and intellectual across several continents. At the end of his voyage, the hero meets the love of his life. Sequences with live actors alternate with animated passages and artistically remarkable sets meticulously created during postproduction. (Anifilm)