# Příběh kmotra

Příběh kmotra (lit. 'Story of a Godfather') is a Czech thriller film released in 2013. Based on the story of Czech Mobster František Mrázek, the film is directed by Petr Nikolaev [cs].
The film was watched in Czech cinema by 295,683 people, making it the second most-watched Czech film of 2013.

## Plot

The story follows František Vedral who is growing up in Communist Czechoslovakia. He has talent for business and loves football. Through football he finds friends in Standa Tipl and Josef Strnad. Strnad later becomes a high rank police officer while Vedral with Tipl starts with illegal business. Vedral becomes very ruthless and even demolishes a local Jewish cemetery to make money. He catches the attention of the young policeman Cajthaml who wants to arrest him. Vedral starts to smuggle electronics from the West and pays by stolen goods. Cajthaml finds his warehouse surrounded by police and Vedral is saved by Strnad. Vedral and his accomplices are arrested soon after as the police finds illegal materials and goods in his flat but Vedral is released on parole. Cajthaml promises him that he will be after him.
Fall of regime gives Vedral new opportunities. His accomplice including Tipl are released thank to Amnesty. He gives Civic Forum one million Czechoslovak crowns and gains influence on some politicians. Thank to Voucher privatization he gets property and his influence grows. He is watched by Cajthaml who is awaiting an opportunity to catch Vedral and his gang. He along with his colleague Ota set up trap on Vedral and prepare to arrest him but Ota is found dead. It is classified as a suicide. Shocked Cajthaml finds out that Strnad became a director of National Security Authority. Vedral then ordered a murder of a journalist who was making troubles.
Cajthaml finds an ally in a Prosecutor who is not afraid of Vedral who at the time planned to get Sezeta company which would make him the most powerful person in country. Cajthaml tries to spoil his plans but the prosecutor is found dead and Cajthaml is forced to leave police. As a revenge he drains a false information between Vedral, Tipl and Strnad and they start to be suspicious against themselves. At the time it becomes an interest of Czech Security Agency to get rid of Vedral from Sezeta. Vedral is killed by an unknown sniper.

## Cast and characters

* Ondřej Vetchý as František Vedral, the ruthless protagonist and a minor criminal who becomes an influential mob boss. He has influence on politicians and entrepreneurs. Vedral is inspired by František Mrázek.
* Lukáš Vaculík as Čestmír Cajthaml, a lawful police investigator who serves as the main antagonist of the film. He tries to convict Vedral of his crimes.
* Jan Vondráček as Standa Tipl, a mobster and a crime partner of Vedral who is inspired by Tomáš Pitr.
* Vica Kerekes as Zuzana, a journalist who is Vedral's love interest and helps Cajthaml.
* Kryštof Hádek as Rotný Bohoušek, a young policeman who works with Cajthaml and supports him when he loses hope.
* Jiří Dvořák as Josef Strnad, a mobster and a friend of Vedral who works at police.
* Zuzana Čapková as Blanka Vedralova, Vedral's wife.
* Andrej Hryc as Farkaš, a sadistic gangster who works for Vedral.

## Production

The filming started on Saturday 25 November 2011 in Voděradské bučiny, with the first shot being a film murder. Shooting of the film took 40 days. It was finished in June 2013. The main character would be played by Marko Igonda, but was eventually replaced by Ondřej Vetchý.

## Reception

The film was well-received by critics and audiences, being rated 70% by František Fuka of FFFilm on 21 October 2013.

## Trivia

On 10 September 2013 the family of František Mrázek sued the filmmakers.