When Martina (Hana Vagnerová) and her three friends – portrayed by Judit Pecháček, Zuzana Bydžovská, and Alžběta Zea Ferencová – decide to test a scientific theory about the natural lack of alcohol in the human body, everything initially seems like a harmless game. However, with each deciliter, not only does the blood alcohol level rise, but so does the tension among the characters – along with the question of what we are willing to risk for a feeling of lightness. Under the direction of Rudolf Biermann (War of the Cops), a bitter comedy was created that balances on the edge between exaggeration and uncomfortable truth.
Hana Vagnerová revealed a little about the film to us.
Hana Vagnerová on Martina
At the beginning of the film, Martina is going through a complete life crisis, whether it concerns her romantic relationship or work, and the film also tells how she copes with the entire crisis.
About the central quartet of actresses and working on set
We have a fantastic cast. I worked wonderfully with the trio of actresses, and I appreciate that we had several days of rehearsals before filming. The story of the film Under the Influence is about female friendship, and there are many things that cannot be acted out and must be experienced and "absorbed." We also visited the selected locations in advance; for example, the central scene is filmed in a restaurant, where we even went in costumes. These are little details that ripen within you before filming, and it was a very clever move by Rudolf Biermann; he is an incredibly dedicated director and went to the core during filming.
About Mikulov
I was in Mikulov for filming for the first time, and I was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful Mikulov is. We also visited a quarry, which is stunning, and during filming, we were lucky with the weather, so it was all great.
About the film experiment of the teachers: maintaining a blood alcohol level of 0.5 per mille
Our heroines perceived it as a shortcut to solve the current stagnation in their lives and to give the experiment some scientific value. In my honest opinion, this is not a theory that one should hold on to in life, and which is truly valid.
In the Danish version, the line was: This whole country drinks like crazy.
The Czech Republic and Slovakia are countries where people also drink... We have the alcohol bar unnecessarily high, and the Czech Republic really "drinks like crazy," not only in teenage years but also later in life.
What is it like to play a character that in the Danish version is played by Mads Mikkelsen
At first, it stressed me out a bit because Mads is one of my favorite actors; he is a brilliant actor. Adapting something that is brilliant is quite a risk. The idea of a female cast gives it freedom, and I perceive that we have created a film that is completely different. Each of us, from the central quartet of actresses, brought a personal energy to the project, and it cannot and should not be a desired copy of someone else.
About dancing and the final scene
Mads Mikkelsen is a trained dancer; he studied ballet, and you can really see that in this scene. I did not study ballet, but I can do diving; I regularly jump on a trampoline, which Mads cannot do, but I can.
About the message of the film Under the Influence
There are many themes in the film, and I was most entertained by the line of responsibility for one's life, how we deal with crises in relationships and in life, which are inevitable. We help ourselves with crutches in the form of alcohol, and we can pay a cruel price for this behavior; the cost can be very high.
Under the Influence, or an invitation to go to the cinema
The film Under the Influence is one in which many people can find themselves because it offers several themes from burnout, crises in marriage, and friendship. I believe the film will be funny, and most of all, I hope it will be human.
